The White Lotus season 3 sees a new batch of ultra-wealthy guests heading to a luxury hotel on the sunny shores of Koh Samui in Thailand.

But, once again, they're about to see their trip of a lifetime descend into a living nightmare as the series opened with a flash-forward where we see at least one character meet a grisly end.

The holidaymakers this time include successful businessman Timothy and his family, while actor Jaclyn has brought her two best friends to the resort for a much-needed girls' catch-up. Then there is free spirit Chelsea, who arrives with her tetchy boyfriend Rick. But as each resort guest finds their holiday thrown off course, who will make it home from the vacation in one piece?

Here is everything that happens in The White Lotus season 3 episode 8...

The final episode of the third season opens with Piper and Lachlan waking up at the Buddhist retreat while Tim is back at the hotel taking more of Victoria's medication. In Bangkok, Rick wakes up in his hotel room after sleeping on a chair, while Frank has been partying all night and is well and truly off the wagon. Frank tries to stop Rick from leaving, but when more women arrive at the hotel suite, Rick makes a hasty exit.

At the hotel, Mook and Gaitok arrive for work and it's the morning after their date. He tells her that he knows who was responsible for the robbery and Mook is happy, knowing that if he helps catch the thieves, then it could help him get a promotion at work.

Jaclyn finds Kate and asks if she has seen Laurie that morning, but she is still sleeping after the eventful evening the night before. Jaclyn goes to wake Laurie and appologises for sleeping with Valentin as she didn't know Laurie cared so much, not realising what Laurie went through the previous evening.

Lachlan and Piper leave the retreat and he has decided he wants to move to Thailand with her, but she doesn't let on that she has changed her mind about moving. They get back to the hotel and Victoria is desperate to know how they got on, hoping it was awful... However, neither Piper or Lachlan want to talk about it and head off to get ready for breakfast.

Belinda and Zion are having breakfast when Pornchai comes over and Belinda introduces him to her son. Belinda explains that Pornchai wants to go into business, but neither of them has the cash - and Zion is quick to remind her that Gary's cash would be the answer to all her problems. She is adamant that it wouldn't be enough anyway and she doesn't want the blood money - but Zion is adamant that she should negotiate with Gary and get him to up his $100,000 offer to £1 million.

At breakfast, Tim is telling Piper he is happy she has realised she can live a simpler life and that they could all do with having a bit less while Victoria shoots him daggers from across the table. But Piper doesn't seem convinced and says the food was bland and not organic, and there wasn't any air conditioning. She says she feels awful for needing these things and cries becasue she can't help being a princess - while Tim looks on, horrified. Victoria is thrilled, telling her daughter that she doesn't have to prove anything and that Piper is right; they are very lucky, but they should just enjoy what they have, otherwise it is offensive to people who don't have what they have.

Back in their room, Saxon can barely look at Lachlan. Lachlan asks what he has done wrong, and Saxon reminds him of what happened between them at the boat party and Lachlan tells him he thought he looked left out and he is a pleaser, so he thought he was doing the right thing... Saxon doesn't want to talk about it and tells his brother to drop it. Forever.

Gaitok calls his boss and leaves a voicemail telling him that he knows it is his day off, but he has something important to tell him. Valentin comes over and says he looked for Gaitok and Mook after the fight but he couldn't find them. Gaitok asks what Valentin's friends are called and he fobs him off, telling Gaitok that they are just men from his gym.

Saxon finds Chloe and Chelsea on the beach and he tells Chelsea that he has read her book on meditation - while they are talking Chelsea sees Rick walking down the beach towards her and she runs to him, throwing herself into his arms and they have sweet reunion, where even Rick seems pleeased to be reunited with Chelsea. She asks him how it went and he tells her he didn't kill anyone and that he said what he had to say and got the monkey off his back, and she is happy for him.

Now that Piper has realized she is just as materialistic as everyone else in her family, a thrilled Victoria takes her to the resort store and encourages her to spend lots of money as Tim watches on, horrified. Eventually, he goes back to the room and finds Lachlan there, reading. He asks his youngest if he could live without money, and he thinks for a moment and says yes, which pleases Tim. He encourages him to go for a swim or to the beach as it is their last day, and Tim is left once again alone with his own thoughts.

Valentin confronts Gaitok and tells him he knows that he has worked out it was his friends who robbed the resort. He begs him not to report him as he will be deported and be killed when he gets back to his country. He says that reporting him is the same as killing him, but before Gaitok can respond, Fabian interrupts him and asks if he can get Jaclyn to agree to a photo with the Hollingers tomorrow when they return from Bangkok.

Tim goes to the tree in their suite that has poisonous fruit and picks one, but before he can eat it Pam arrives to return their phones as their holiday is almost over. Tim is adamant that he doesn't want them back, and she just assumes that he has enjoyed the break from technology and says she will put them on the boat that takes them back to the airport and he agrees. He asks her about the tree and the fruit and she says the locals call it the suicide tree becasue people who want to kill themselves grind the seeds and eat them. Once she has gone, he picks the fruit and tears it open.

Zion and Belinda go to see Gary to ask for more money and Zion goes into full business mode, launching into a speech about how Gary's initial offer wasn't enough, while Belinda sits there silently, terrified. Gary isn't impressed with Zion, especially when he asks for $5 million. Gary says it isn't happening, but Zion says that he has done his research and knows how much Tanya was worth and that surely $5 million is worth the peace of mind knowing that Belinda won't say anything about how Tanya died. Belinda looks like she has had enough and storms out, with Zion following behind, wondering why she walked out of the meeting when he was so close to closing the deal. Zion follows his mom and questions what she is doing, and realizes that it was all an act and that she wants Gary to realize that she is a threat to his future and tells Zion to get back in there and close the deal.

In his room, Tim gets all the poisonous seeds and blends them in Saxon's blender, but instead of eating them straight away, he hides them in the kitchen cupboard.

Mook goes to see Gaitok at the end of her shift and realises something is wrong... he tells her he has to quit his job becasue he isn't meant to be a guard. She tells him that he has worked hard to get to where he is now and that he would have to start at the bottom somewhere else. Mook clearly wants a successful boyfriend and tells him that she isn't sure she can make dinner tonight and when he asks when they can rearrange it for, she tells him she will think about it.

The Ratliff family head to dinner and as they order, Tim tells the waitress that it is their last night and he wants to make Piña Coladas in their room later and that they have the blender but could they deliver the ingredients to their room. She agrees and Victirua is surprised at Tim's new-found enthusiasm. Lachlan asks if he can have a Piña Colada later, but Tim says no as he isn't 21.

Laurie goes to dinner with Jaclyn and Kate and tells them what happened with Alexi - but while she is talking, Valentin comes and interrupts and asks about the photo that Sritala would like with Jaclyn. She agrees and then things are awkward, so he leaves.

Belinda says she is too nervous to eat because Zion failed to close the deal with Gary. He is going to think about the offer and while Zion thinks that perhaps Gary could be wiring the cash to Belinda's account right now, she thinks her son is delusional.

Rick and Chelsea have dinner tgoether and she says she is pleased to have him back and that she thinks they are going to be together forever, and this time, instead of fobbing her off or being mean, Rick tells her 'that's the plan' and she is shocked and silently thrilled that he seems happy at last.

At dinner Kate and Jaclyn are both talking about what a brilliant holiday they have and that they've been on cloud nine being with true friends, but Laurie disagrees and says that she has felt sad all week and that being with her old friends has made her question her life choices. She adds that she loves them dearly and wouldn't be without them, and the three women all cry.

Back in their room, Tim makes Piña Coladas in the blender - he pours out four, one for each of his family members who have said that they couldn't live without their wealth - Victoria, Saxon and Piper - but doesn't let Lachlan have any, telling him he should get a Coke. Tim claims it is becasue he is underage, but it is really becasue he told his dad earlier in the day that he could live without their money.

Tim makes a speech, telling his family that they have had a perfect life and that he loves them all. Saxon says the Piña Colada tastes weird, but Tim just claims it is a bit strong, that's all. As he watches his family drink he realizes the enormity of what he is doing and swats the glass out of Saxon's hand and tells them all that the coconut milk must be off as he pours the cocktails down the sink. Victoria says they should have wine instead. We then see the blender with some of the poisonous crushed up seeds in it has been left on the side of the bar.

The next morning, Sritala and Jim return to the hotel and Gaitok tells his boss that he isn't cut out for this job - but Pee Lek tells him he is a good worker and tells him to think about what he is about to say and that they will talk later.

Belinda checks her bank account and can't believe it when she sees she is $5 million better off. She tells Zion that she has checked with the bank and it is real and that she has booked him a treatment at the spa and then they are leaving as she wants to be as far away from Gary as she can possibly be.

Lachlan makes a protein shake in the blender without cleaning it out and soon collapses next to the pool while Tim sleeps and Saxon, Victoria and Piper go to breakfast. Lachlan is sick into the pool and then lies down all alone, and we see that he feels like he is drowning as underwater shots show him struggling to breathe. At the same time, Tim wakes and realises someone has used the blender before seeing Lachlan lying by the pool. He races out and grabs his son, yelling for help as he cradles his limp body in his lap.

Rick runs into Jim at breakfast and Jim is furious seeing him at the hotel and tells him he needs to leave. He tells Rick that his mother was a liar and that she has painted his father to be a hero, when he was anything but. Rick steps towards Jim, intending to hurt him, but he shows he has a gun on him and Rick walks away and back to Chelsea who asks him what is wrong. She is shocked to see that he is back at square one and once again haunted by his past. Before they know what is happening, Jim's bodyguards are chasing after Rick and he and Chelsea panic. Rick goes to find Amrita, saying he desperately needs to talk to her, but she has a session with Zion and says she will come and find him in an hour.

As Sritala and Jim have their photo taken with Jaclyn, Rick's demons return and he is consumed with hatred for what Jim has done. Despite Chelsea trying to stop him, Rick runs up to Jim, grabs his gun from inside his jacket and shoots him twice in his chest. Sritala yells at him as Jim lays in her lap dying, asking Rick why he shot Jim. He tells her it is revenge for him killing his father, and to his horror, she yells back that he IS his father. Soon, a gun fight gets underway with the Hollingers' bodyguards shooting at Rick, however, he manages to avoid their shots and kills them both.

As the gun fight is happening, Gaitok hears the shots from the security gate and grabs the gun before racing to where the gun fight is playing out between Rick and the security guards. As everyone dives for cover, Rick turns around and finds Chelsea lying on the ground, having been shot in the chest. He is beside himself with grief, telling her that she is going to be okay and that he is sorry as she dies in his arms.

Rick picks Chelsea's body up, telling her that they are going to be together forever, just like she said, as Gaitok finds Sritala with Jim and she yells at him to kill Rick as he is walking away with Chelsea in his arms. It takes Gaitok a little while to gather his courage, and then, with Sritala shouting at him, he shoots Rick twice in the back, killing him and causing him and Chelsea to fall into the water.

Meanwhile. Lachlan suddenly wakes up after eating the poisoned fruit and Tim is over the moon, relieved that his son is going to be okay and they have been given a second chance. He cradles him in his arms and kisses his head, relieved he is still alive.

Elsewhere, Belinda, now a multimillionaire, goes to see Pornchai and tells him that she is leaving and that as her situation has changed, she needs time to get her head straight. He asks about the business they were going to start together, and she says it might happen, but not yet... basically doing to him what Tanya did to her all those years ago.

As the episode comes to a close, we see the boat taking Tim and his family to the airport. Saxon is a changed man now reading a self-help book, while Lachlan looks a little worse for wear but alive. Victoria gets their phones back and hands them out to everyone, and Tim realises this is the moment they are going to find out about his money laundering. He tells them all that he loves them and that family is all that matters - as they all look at him, stunned as their phones ping into life and reality hits.

In another part of the boat, Kate, Laurie and Jaclyn are also heading home, and they hug each other after their holiday came to a traumatic ending with Jim being shot in front of them.

Back at Gary's house, we see Chloe chatting up a man at a party, and she is clearly trying to recruit him to act out Gary's sexual fantasy where he watches her have sex with someone else after Saxon turned her down. Gary is still the king of the castle, sitting in his huge house and although he might be $5 million lighter after paying to keep Belinda quiet, he looks like he might have just gotten away with Tanya's death.

The very end of the epsiode sees Valentin and his friends all partying with a new group of women, seemingly having gotten away with the robbery, while Frank is back on the wagon and finding religion again.

Gaitok and Mook hug as he leaves, this time in plain clothes - his security uniform long gone - as he has now been promoted to be Sritala's bodyguard after proving himself when he shot Rick. As he drives off with Sritala, Mook watches on proudly.

Finally, two body bags containing Chelsea and Rick are loaded onto a plane as Belinda and Zion head home on a very fancy boat. As Belinda waves goodbye to the hotel staff, we see Pornchai waving her off with a sad look in his eye as she speeds off into the sunset.

The White Lotus season 3 is available on HBO in the US and on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.

The White Lotus season 3 sees a new batch of ultra-wealthy guests heading to a luxury hotel on the sunny shores of Koh Samui in Thailand.

But, once again, they're about to see their trip of a lifetime descend into a living nightmare as the series opened with a flash-forward where we see at least one character meet a grisly end.

The holidaymakers this time include successful businessman Timothy and his family, while actor Jaclyn has brought her two best friends to the resort for a much-needed girls' catch-up. Then there is free spirit Chelsea, who arrives with her tetchy boyfriend Rick. But as each resort guest finds their holiday thrown off course, who will make it home from the vacation in one piece?

Here is everything that happens in The White Lotus season 3 episode 7...

The penultimate episode opens with Rick and Frank at Sritala and Jim's house. Frank makes small talk about being a movie director, bluffing his way through all her questions about the film he is making. Frank asks for a herbal tea, while Rick is on the whiskey. But when the chat about the movie gets awkward because Frank has no idea what he is talking about, he decides to break his sober streak and asks for a whiskey like Rick.

The episode then moves to the retreat, where Lachlan and Piper are listening to a class about the dangers of violence by the lead monk. As he is talking about how everyone has the capacity for violence, it is just how we use it, we see Gaitok collecting Mook for their date, and then Tim back in his hotel room where he is taking more of Vicotia's tablets.

Saxon is ready for Chloe and Gary's party, and Victoria isn't happy about going becasue she doesn't like 'the boat people', and Tim doesn't really have a say in things as he is totally spaced out on drugs. Eventually, Victoria agrees to go, but only because she is all dolled up.

Over in Belinda's room she is in a panic about what Gary (or Greg as she knows him) wants from her. She doesn't want to go to the party, but Zion thinks they should go to see what Gary's agenda is.

Laurie, Kate and Jaclyn arrive at the resort restaurant for dinner and the atmosphere between Jaclyn and Laurie is still tense. They order wine and sit in silence until it arrives.

Back at Sritala's house, Frank is still struggling with his pretend role as a film director, and Rick, who has been virtually silent until now, says he would love to speak with Jim in another room about how he became a successful businessman in Thailand. In Jim's office, he and Rick talk, and while Jim isn't looking, Rick checks the gun in his pocket.

At Chloe's party she welcomes Saxon and his parents in, asking where Lachlan is. Saxon explains that he is at a Buddhist retreat, while Victoria tells her it is a cult. As Tim heads to the bar, Saxon ditches his parents and finds Chelsea. He asks her why she is with Rick, and she explains they are soulmates and that his sadness touches her and makes her want to heal him.

As Belinda turns up at the party, Gary is pleased to see she is there. Meanwhile, Piper and Lachlan are at the retreat having dinner, but the meal is so bad that Lachlan has to force it down, much to Piper's horror.

Mook and Gaitok are on their date and it all seems to be going well until he tells her that he won't be getting a promotion at the hotel because his boss thinks he is soft and doesn't have a killer instinct. Mook is surprised and it's awkward when she tells him that she thought he was more ambitious and wanted a better job.

Fabian is preparing for his first performance at the hotel while Laurie and Jacklyn start arguing over Valentin again. As they are fighting, Kate gets involved and says that Laurie is always disappointed with her life but blames other people, which she takes offence to. She calls Jaclyn vain and Kate fake before heading out for the evening on her own, leaving the others sitting in shock in the restaurant.

Gary corners Belinda at the party and asks her for a private chat. She tries to get Zion to come too, but Gary insists it is just the two of them. Gary says he knows that Belinda remembers who he is and claims to have had nothing to do with Tanya's death. He says he is happy in Thailand and wants to spend the rest of his life there, so he is going to give Belinda the $100,000 that Tanya should have given her to start the business as she promised. He says it is what Tanya would have wanted, but she knows it is blackmail and tells him that she will need to sleep on it.

Saxon has realised there is something wrong with his dad. Tim fobs him off, claiming he has just had too much to drink, but Saxon knows it is something more and asks if everything is okay at work. Tim says all is fine and is shocked when Saxon says that his whole career is tied to his father's and without it he is nothing, putting even more pressure on an already drowning Tim.

Rick and Jim continue their chat and eventually, Rick gets to the point where he tells a confused Jim that he ruined his life by killing his father. Jim has no recollection of Rick's father, but Rick pulls out a gun and looks like he is about to shoot him. In the end, Rick changes his mind and instead tips the old man out of his chair before racing out of the house, taking a bemused Frank with him.

At the boxing fight, which has been playing out between scenes throughout the episode, Mook and Gaitok are watching as part of their date. She points out that fighting is just human nature and he just smiles.

Lauire is also at the fight with Valentin and soon his friends from the other night arrive. Across from the other side of the boxing ring, Gaitok sees Valentin and his friends and realizes they were the ones who robbed the resort shop at gunpoint a few days ago. In a flashback, Gaitok remembers it was Valentin who distracted him while the security barrier was up as the car that the gunmen were in went through.

Back at the retreat, Piper asks Lachlan what he thinks about her coming to live here, and he says he likes it and wants to come with her. He tells her he doesn't want to go home, and although she has no idea it is because of what happened with Saxon at the full moon party, she is surprised and not as excited as Lachlan thought she would be, which confuses him. Little does he know, his sister is having second thoughts about moving there.

At Gary's party, Saxon is chatting with Chelsea and Chloe. Chelsea says she is going to go home, and Saxon offers to walk her back, but Chloe says he can't leave as Gary doesn't want him to. She says she and Gary have had a big talk about his past and he has shared his darkest sexual fantasies with her. She says he dreams of watching other people have sex and he wants Saxon to sleep with Chloe so that he can watch. Saxon is horrified by the whole thing, despite the fact Chloe tries to make out that it is totally normal, and he makes his excuses to leave. As they are talking, Gary is watching their whole conversation from afar.

Back in Bangkok, Rick tells Frank about what happened with Jim and explains that he was just a frail old man and he couldn't bring himself to hit him, let alone use the gun. He puts the gun in a bin and they head into town to party.

Back at the resort, Belinda tells Zion about the money that Gary offered her, and he says she should take it. But she says she can't because it would make her an accessory to murder.

In their hotel room, Kate is worrying that Laurie isn't replying to her texts. Meanwhile, Saxon walks Chelsea home and tells her he wants to be a better person so she teaches him how to meditate. But while they are having their lesson, he tries it on with her again, and she tells him to leave, throwing meditation books at him as he goes.

Back in Victoria and Tim's room, Victoria is praying before bed asking Jesus to make sure Piper has an awful time at the retreat so she doesn't want to move there... meanwhile, Laurie is having sex with Valentin's friend and afterwards he tells her about how he needs money to get his sick mother into Thailand. He asks her for $10,000 and she is shocked and tries to make excuses about why she can't wire him the money. As they are talking, a woman comes to his door and starts yelling at him. Laurie has to quickly get dressed and hide in a back room, and when she does, she sees lots of jewels hidden. In the end, she has to escape out the window as the woman sees her and hits her as she falls from the window ledge. She runs off as the man shouts after her to come back. After walking for a while, she gets a taxi.

In Bangkok, Rick and Frank are partying, and Frank has well and truly fallen off the wagon. He is drinking again, taking drugs, and has invited loads of women back to his room. But Rick isn't in the party mood and doesn't get involved.

With Victoria asleep, Tim is having flashbacks to killing himself, and also Victoria and now Saxon, too. But when he goes to get the gun, he is shocked to find it gone, not realizing that Gaitok stole it back.

The White Lotus season 3 airs in the US on Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO and Max. In the UK new episodes land on Sky Atlantic and NOW every Monday.

The White Lotus season 3 sees a new batch of ultra-wealthy guests heading to a luxury hotel on the sunny shores of Koh Samui in Thailand.

But, once again, they're about to see their trip of a lifetime descend into a living nightmare as the series opened with a flash forward where we see at least one character meet a grisly end.

The holidaymakers this time include successful businessman Timothy and his family, while actor Jaclyn has brought her two best friends to the resort for a much-needed girls' catch-up. Then there is free spirit Chelsea, who arrives with her tetchy boyfriend Rick. But as each resort guest finds their holiday thrown off course, who will make it home from the vacation in one piece?

Here is everything that happens in The White Lotus season 3 episode 6...

The sixth episode opens with Tim standing in his hotel apartment in the early morning with a gun in his hand. He takes the gun and shoots himself in the head. Victoria wakes when she hears the gunshot and finds him dead on the floor and her screaming wakes Piper, who comes in and finds her dad on the floor and her mum covered in his blood. Thankfully it is all just in Tim's imagination as he sits and contemplates taking his own life, and he is very much still alive. Instead, he puts the gun in a dresser drawer and takes some more of Victoria's medication, before getting into bed beside her. Victoria thinks he is unable to sleep becasue he is thinking about Piper moving to a Thai meditation centre, oblivious to the utter turmoil he is going through over his money laundering.

Over at Kate, Laurie and Jaclyn's suite, Kate is taking an early morning phone call when she sees Valentin sneaking out of Jaclyn's room.

On the boat, it's the morning after the night before for Saxon, who is having flashbacks about the evening before and we see that Lachlan lost his virginity to Chloe - and that she also slept with Saxon, too.

In Belinda's room, she and Pornchai are waking up after spending the night together just as her son, Zion, arrives early from his flight and catches them in bed together. Zion finds the whole thing funny and gives his mom a minute to get decent.

Gaitok arrives at work and panics when his boss tells him they should go to the shooting range today to learn how to use the new gun. He pretends he doesn't know the gun is missing and agrees to meet his boss at the end of his shift.

Chloe has an argument with Gary on the phone, he is cross that she took the boat and accuses her of hooking up with someone else. After hanging up, she admits to Chelsea that she slept with both brothers and needs to bribe the deckhands so that they don't tell Gary what she has been up to.

Chelsea calls Rick and she asks if he went out the night before, but he tells her the friend he met up with, Frank, is sober so it wasn't a very eventful night. Meanwhile, Saxon is looking full of regret after the night before as he remembers enjoying watching Lachlan having sex with Chloe - revisiting the incest theme that the show has been hinting at since the beginning of the season. Lachlan admits that he can't remember a thing that happened, but Saxon remembers too much and has to rush to be sick after flashbacks of kissing his brother.

At breakfast, Kate tells Laurie about Valentin sneaking out of Jaclyn's room and Laurie is clearly upset by the whole thing, although she pretends not to be. Jaclyn is in her room talking to her boyfriend on the phone, while Kate tells Laurie she's sorry she told her and she thought she would find the whole thing funny. Laurie tries to pretend she isn't bothered as Valentin comes up to the table and asks how they are both feeling and the atmosphere is awkward.

Belinda and Zion have breakfast and he is laughing about his mom hooking up with Pornchai. As they talk Fabian comes to see if Belinda is feeling better about things today, meaning Gary, and she says no. He invites her to come and watch him sing at the restaurant that evening, and she says she will try to be there.

Saxon and Lachlan arrive back at the hotel after their epic night of partying - both looking worse for wear. Victoria says that she, Tim and Piper are going to the meditation centre as they want to check it isn't a cult, and Piper begs Lachlan to come too so he can be on her side. He heads off to get changed and Saxon, head full of last night, can't look him straight in the eye.

As Chloe gets home, Gary gives her the cold shoulder and asks which of the brothers she slept with. She denies it and he tells her to invite them over that evening. She asks if it is a party and he just says 'I need to deal with something, and I need your help.'

Belinda goes to work and sees Pornchai, he apologizes for making things awkward with her son, but she tells him she wanted him to say and is glad he did. Pornchai says he remembers her saying she has always dreamed of opening her own spa and he asks if she would like to go into business together. She agrees to talk about it later and seems happy with where things are going.

In Bangkok, Rick meets Sritala Hollinger and she asks where his movie producer friend is. He fobs her off, telling her that he likes her but wants to meet her at her house instead of a restaurant and she agrees but tells Rick that her husband is at her house and he isn't well, which is music to his ears.

At the meditation centre, Piper meets the Buddhist monk whose books she has been reading, and she is honoured to be in his presence. She asks him to meet with her parents as she thinks he can answer their questions better than she can, but when she goes to get them, only Tim can be found, as - much to Piper's horror - Victoria is wandering around the centre trying to find out if the place is a cult.

Back at the hotel, Gaitok is trying to get into Tim's suite so that he can find the gun when Mook catches up with him. She asks if they are still on for their date that night, but he says he has to go to the shooting range with Pee Lek first, and she is impressed when he tells her they have given him a gun - he just keeps the fact he has lost it to himself!

Meanwhile, Saxon finds Chelsea at the pool and she asks why he seems freaked out. He covers up his whole attraction to Lachlan and tells her he doesn't understand why she wouldn't hook up with him the night before. She says it is becasue she has a boyfriend, Rick is her soulmate and tells Saxon that he is soulless, which leaves him quiet for once.

Tim meets with the Buddhist monk and says he doesn't understand why Piper would want to come and live at the meditation centre. After asking questions about Piper, Tim asks the monk what he thinks happens when you die. The monk gives a beautiful speech about death being a welcome return and like coming home, and it is clear that Tim is given lots to think about.

At the pool, Laurie confronts Jaclyn about sleeping with Valentin and she denies anything happened, which only infuriates Laurie more. Kate tries to keep the peace, but their argument escalates and Laurie says this proves people don't change and they are still the same as they were in 10th grade.

While they're out, Gaitok breaks into Tim and Victoria's suite and looks for the gun, while back at the meditation centre Tim tells Victoria that he likes the monk and thinks the centre is genuine. Victoria says she has done a tour of the centre and the living conditions are grim, and - convinced that Piper will hate it - she tells her daughter that if she sleeps there for one night and still wants to spend a year there afterwards, she will support her decision. Piper can't believe her luck and goes to ask if they have a room, while Lachlan tells her he will stay with her and she's grateful.

Rick meets with his friend, Frank, in Bangkok again and asks if he will help him get revenge on Jim. He says no becasue he is trying to live a different life in Thailand, and that Rick is clearly going to kill Jim. Rick denies that is his plan, despite asking Frank for the gun.

Meanwhile, Gaitok finds the dresser that Tim hid the gun in and is awash with relief as he puts it in his pocket and sneaks out of their room just as they are returning. Back at the security gate, Pee Lek is looking for the gun, but Gaitok covers and claims he had it with him the whole time.

In their suite, Tim and Victoria are arguing about the fact Tim is encouraging Piper's dream of moving to the meditation centre and he says he thinks it will be good for her to learn to live without all their money. Victoria is angry and tells Tim that she couldn't cope if they lost their fortune, admitting that she wouldn't see a reason for living if they didn't have money, not realising that they have already lost it all.

Chloe finds Chelsea and Saxon at the pool and tells them Gary wants them to come for dinner that night at the house, and that he knows that she and Saxon slept together. Saxon says that he doesn't want to go if Gary knows what happened the night before, and Chelsea suggests maybe Gary likes the idea of a threesome. Saxon says he only has threesomes with two women, and not another man, and Chloe reminds him that the night before he made out with his own brother. Saxon claims that was a joke and they made them do it, to which Chloe says she didn't get his brother to jerk him off. Saxon is horrified and says he doesn't remember, but she does, and it happened. He is sickened once again by the whole thing, blames the drugs Chloe bought and makes a hasty exit back to his room.

Meanwhile, Lachlan is at the meditation centre with Piper and they are doing some group meditation together. As he tries to clear his mind, memories of the night before come back to him, and he remembers what happened with Saxon and is horrified.

On her way back to her room after work, Belinda is terrified when Gary seems to appear from nowhere and invites her to dinner at his house that night. She makes excuses, but he is very insistent and tells her she is welcome at his place any time. When she gets back to the room, she finds Zion in the pool and he can tell something is wrong.

Back in his room, Tim is thinking that he now not only has to take his own life but also kill Victoria after she said that she couldn't see the point in carrying on if they lost all their money. Tim is thinking about shooting Vicotira when Saxon gets home and jogs him out of his trance. Saxon tells his dad about the dinner party they have been invited to at Gary's and Tim agrees to go.

In Bangkok, Frank and Rick arrive at Sritala and Jim's house. There are bodyguards who meet them at the gate, and soon Sritala welcomes them inside. But while Frank pretends to be a movie producer, Rick is left frozen to the spot when he finally comes face to face with Jim, the man he thinks murdered his father.

The White Lotus season 3 airs in the US on Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO and Max. In the UK new episodes land on Sky Atlantic and NOW every Monday.

The White Lotus season 3 sees a new batch of ultra-wealthy guests heading to a luxury hotel on the sunny shores of Koh Samui in Thailand.

But, once again, they're about to see their trip of a lifetime descend into a living nightmare as the series opens with a flash forward where we see at least one character meet a grisly end.

The holidaymakers this time include successful businessman Timothy and his family, while actor Jaclyn has brought her two best friends to the resort for a much-needed girls' catch-up. Then there is free spirit Chelsea, who arrives with her tetchy boyfriend Rick. But as each resort guest finds their holiday thrown off course, who will make it home from the vacation in one piece?

Here is everything that happens in The White Lotus season 3 episode 5...

The fifth episode picks up right where the fourth ended, with Gaitok realizing someone has taken the gun from his security hut. He searches everywhere and then has the idea to watch the CCTV to see who took it, and it doesn't take long to work out it was Tim.

Meanwhile, Tim is at dinner with his wife, Victoria and daughter Piper, but as Piper tries to tell them she has decided to come and live in Thailand at the meditation center when she graduates, Tim's mind is totally consumed with the fact he has lost all his money and it heading for jail. Victoria and Tim are shocked to learn there is no thesis and that Piper asked to come to Thailand under false pretenses. While Tim is quietly confused, Victoria is fuming and tells her daughter she can't be a Buddhist as she comes from a Christian family.

Meanwhile, Gaitok is looking for Tim to try and get the gun back, but hotel manager Fabian catches him in the restaurant and asks why he isn't in the security booth. He lies and says he is there to watch Mook's evening performance, so Fabian says he can stay for a few minutes but then must get back.

On Chloe's boat, the gang is heading to the full moon party and Saxon is still on a mission to get his little brother to lose his virginity. He thinks Chloe will be the right woman for Lachlan, while he is going to try his luck with Chelsea. Meanwhile, inside the boat, the women are talking about the brothers and Chloe seems to have a soft spot for Lachlan, while Chelsea admits she is a romantic at heart and would never cheat on Rick.

Speaking of Rick, he has landed in Bangkok and is on a mission to find Khun Jim Hollinger (Sritala's husband) - after his mother told him on her deathbed that he was the one who killed Rick's father.

In town Kate, Laurie and Jaclyn are getting to know Valentin and his friends. There is plenty of flirting going on and when Valentin asks Laurie to dance she happily says yes. They all have fun as they down shots and Laurie is on a mission to get as drunk as she possibly can.

Fabian corners Belinda and asks if she is enjoying her exchange. She says she is and he tells her that one of his regulars has been asking after her. She knows he means Gary (or Greg as we know him) and she is rattled when Fabian tells her how much information about her he has given Gary. She ponders on what he has told her and later returns to see Fabian and tells him everything about Gary, admitting she doesn't know what to do. She tells him that Gary is dangerous and they have to call the police, but he admits he is having trouble following her story and she could be mistaken. She is stunned when he says they shouldn't be speculating about guests and that she should focus on her job.

Meanwhile, Victoria is still trying to get her head around the fact Piper wants to spend a year at a monastery, and takes Tim's silence about the whole thing as shock over the news, not realizing he has much bigger problems on his mind.

As Tim excuses himself to go to the bathroom, Gaitok follows him and asks if he has the gun. Tim denies all knowledge and walks off. Back in their room, Victoria tells Piper they are going to the monastery the next day to meet the people who run it, as she is worried it is a sex cult. Piper is incredulous over her mum's sheltered opinions and wonders why Tim doesn't seem bothered by her news.

In Bangkok, Rick is in a fancy hotel where he meets an old friend while Chelsea tries to call him from the full moon party but he doesn't answer. He is shocked when his friend orders a camomile tea at the bar and explains he has found religion and has been sober for 10 months. His friend brings him a bag, telling him inside is what he asked for... and he hopes he knows how to use it.

At the party Chloe buys drugs, but Saxon says he doesn't take drugs and refuses, while Lachlan grabs one and downs it. Saxon is shocked and tells him he needs to be on his A-game tonight if he wants to sleep with Chloe. In the end Chloe, Lachlan and Chelsea bully Saxon into taking the pill.

At the nightclub, Laurie, Jaclyn and Kate feel awkward when a woman comes over with her friends and starts arguing with one of Valentin's friends about the fact he has been dancing with other women. They decide to leave and continue their drinking at the villa, inviting Valentin and his friends to join them. Laurie and Jaclyn are keen, but Kate is adamant it isn't a good idea and she just wants to go to bed.

At the hotel, everyone gets in the pool apart from Kate, and soon more drinks are flowing and everyone is having a great time.

In contrast, Piper is in her room meditating, while her parents go to bed, and Victoria talks about how one thing can happen that changes your life forever, meaning Piper's decision to move to the meditation center, but Tim is thinking about the fact he has lost their fortune and is heading for jail.

Belinda is terrified that Gary will try and silence her after she recognized him and tells Pornchai about it over a drink in her room. He is much more understanding about it than Fabian and tells her he will stay with her tonight to keep her safe. Belinda is terrified when she hears the noise again in her room, but when Pornchai investigates, it isn't Gary - it is a huge lizard hiding behind her wardrobe.

In Bangkok, Rick's friend tells him about how he moved to Thailand becasue he liked the women, and he was out of control, partying and taking home a different woman every night. But then he realized that this life couldn't continue and he wondered if he was obsessed with women because he wanted to be one. Rick is speechless as his friend goes on to explain how his obsession with women was what made him turn to Buddhism, and that being sober is easy, but being celibate is the hard bit. As they part ways, Rick asks his friend to keep the following night free for him as he needs his help with something. His friend says he owes him, so will do as he has asked.

At their villa, Kate is trying to get rid of Valentin and his friends as the party winds down... but Laurie is disappointed when they leave. Everyone heads to bed, but once they are asleep, Jaclyn gets a text from Valentin and he is at the door to the villa. She goes to find him and sneaks him into her bedroom.

In Belinda's room, she is awkward as Pornchai asks which bed he should sleep in after promising to stay over and protect her, but soon they are kissing and the bed situation is forgotten.

As Chelsea, Saxon, Chloe and Lachlan get back to the boat after the full moon party, it is almost getting light. Chloe has set her sights on Lachlan and tells Chelsea that if Gary found out she had slept with someone else, he would kill her, and she truly believes he is capable of murder.

Back in Bangkok, Rick looks in the bag that his friend gave him and takes out a gun. He calls Chelsea back but she is on the boat, doing kissing dares with her friends.

Back in Tim and Victoria's villa, Tim has the gun and is writing a suicide note to his family. As his sons party on the boat, Tim is about to take his own life and just as he is about to pull the trigger Victoria comes out to find him and asks what he is doing. He hides the gun and she asks what is wrong but he fobs her off about not being able to sleep so she goes back to bed. Once she has gone, Tim prays, asking god to show him the way and tell him what to do.

The White Lotus season 3 airs in the US on Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO and Max. In the UK new episodes land on Sky Atlantic and NOW every Monday.

The White Lotus season 3 sees a new batch of ultra-wealthy guests heading to a luxury hotel on the sunny shores of Koh Samui in Thailand.

But, once again, they're about to see their trip of a lifetime descend into a living nightmare as the series opens with a flash forward where we see at least one character meet a grisly end.

The holidaymakers this time around include successful businessman Timothy and his family, while actor Jaclyn has brought her two best friends to the resort for a much-needed girls' catch-up. Then there is free spirit Chelsea, who arrives with her tetchy boyfriend Rick. But as each resort guest finds their holiday thrown off course, who will make it home from the vacation in one piece?

Here is everything that happens in The White Lotus season 3 episode 4...

The fourth episode opens with Jaclyn leaving a voicemail for her boyfriend, who isn't returning her calls. She asks him to ring her back, but she doesn't sound very hopeful.

Belinda is speaking to her son, Zion, on the phone, he has just finished his final exams and is at the airport ready to fly out and meet her in Thailand. She is excited to see him, and when she hangs up she nears the odd tapping noise in her room again that she also heard the night before.

Tim is still struggling with the enormity of his money laundering fallout that is playing out at home, and his family still has no idea what he is hiding. He takes more of his wife, Victoria's anti-anxiety medication, and when she asks the kids if someone has stolen some as she knows they're missing, they all deny it and Tim keeps quiet.

Rick and Chelsea are having dinner and they talk about the fact he is going to Bangkok that night and won't make it onto Gary and Chloe's boat trip. Chelsea cries about the fact Rick is abandoning her and won't tell her why, and he relents and agrees to go on the boat before his flight that evening.

Jaclyn, Kate and Laurie are having breakfast and, missing her boyfriend and cross he isn't ringing her back, Jaclyn tells her friends they should skip yoga and pool lounging that day and find somewhere with a bit more excitement. They ask health mentor Valentin if there is somewhere with music and dancing, and he says he knows exactly where they should go and promises to organize a car for them.

Elsewhere Gaitok's meeting with his boss takes a surprise turn when he tells him there has been an increase in crime on the island and he now wants him to carry a gun. It is clear Gaitok's not overly happy about this, especially when his boss tells him to practice at the shooting range that evening after work when Gaitok had promised to watch Mook dancing in the after-dinner entertainment slot.

Amrita corners Rick after breakfast and asks him if he would like another session, but he turns her down. She tells him he has touched her heart and she knows that he can turn his life around, and he seems surprised.

The Ratliff family arrives for their trip with Gary and Chloe and introductions are made. When Victoria asks Gary what his line of work was before he retired, he is evasive, clearly not wanting to share. Chloe is thrilled they have guests and shows them to the bar as Chelsea and Rick arrive, who are shocked to see the boat is so huge.

Tim pretends he needs to use the bathroom but instead sneaks downstairs on the boat to find Victoria's handbag. He takes more of her medication before stealing the lot and putting it in his pocket.

At the beach club, Jaclyn's hopes of letting her hair down fall flat when she realizes that everyone else at the resort is over retirement age. She is fuming that Valentin has recommended this place to them and tells Kate and Laurie to get their stuff, becasue they're leaving!

On the boat Gary is getting drunk while his guests party, and Piper takes her brother, Lachlan to one side, telling him she needs his backup later becasue she is going to tell their parents at dinner that after she graduates she is moving to Thailand to stay at the meditation center. She says she is going to live there for at least a year, and Lachlan is upset that she lied to them all about wanting to come to Thailand to interview a monk for her thesis when really it was to scope out the meditation center and move there. As they're talking, Saxon catches Lachlan's eye and beckons him over. He is on a mission to get his little brother to lose his virginity and points out some women he thinks he should flirt with. Soon Lachlan is doing card tricks and impressing all the women.

Meanwhile, Victoria is worrying about Tim, telling him that he is acting strangely, not realizing that he is taking her medication and then drinking heavily at the same time. She goes to find her handbag and is shocked to see her tablets have gone.

Rick is his usual cagey self as other guests on the boat try and talk with him, and Chelsea has had enough of his grumpiness and takes him to one side. He eventually opens up when she asks him why they are in Thailand and he admits he's there becasue the man who owns the hotel - Khun Jim Hollinger (Sritala's husband) - murdered his father. He explains that he thought Jim was going to be here, but he's had a stroke and is in a hospital in Bangkok. He tells Chelsea that he never got the chance to know his father, but that he was a good man and came to Thailand to help locals stop Americans from taking their land. One day he went missing and was never seen again, but Rick's mother told him it was Jim who killed him. Chelsea is shocked and asks if he wants revenge by killing Jim, but Rick says he doesn't know.

Laurie, Kate and Jaclyn go back to The White Lotus and find Valentin, telling him the place he recommended was rubbish and that he needs to take them somewhere better. They drag him out with him, even though he is meant to be working, and he takes them into town. As he heads off to get his friends to join them at a beach club, Jaclyn notices everyone in the street has water pistols and soon they are being soaked by the local kids.

Belinda talks to Pornchai about the fact she recognizes Gary (or as she knows him - Greg) from the night before, despite the fact he claimed not to know anyone called Tanya. Later, in her room, Belinda is still being bugged by the feeling something isn't right with Gary, who she is convinced is Tanya's husband. She googles Tanya and is stunned to learn she's not only dead but also died in mysterious circumstances in Sicily. She is also horrified to read a news report about the fact Greg is wanted for questioning in connection with Tanya's death, but that he has failed to get in touch with the authorities.

As the boat trip ends, Tim and Victoria can't wait to get back on dry land, but Lachlan and Saxon tell their parents they are staying on the boat as they are sailing to another island with Chloe for a full moon party. Piper is cross that Lachlan won't be there when she tells her parents about her move to the meditation center but her brothers head off for the party anyway. Chelsea tries to stop Rick from going to Bangkok, convinced he is going to do something stupid when he finds Jim, but he won't listen and tells her to go to the full moon party with Chloe. Chloe is thrilled when Chelsea returns to the boat, especially becasue Gary refused to come to the party as he had 'something to sort' at home.

At the beach party Valentin arrives with his friends and Kate, Jaclyn and Laurie are happy their day finally seems to be looking up.

Tim is struggling at dinner when Victoria talks about what a good man he is in comparison to the tax dodgers and conmen that were on the boat trip. He makes his excuses to leave the table and goes to ask Pam for his phone back out of the safe. She tries to change his mind, but soon realizes he isn't going to be swayed, and when he turns it on it pings continuously with missed calls and messages.

Tim calls his lawyer and he is fuming to find out his business partner has struck a deal with the police and has told them everything. His lawyer tells him he should also make a deal but Tim doesn't want to as it means he will never work in finance again if he is linked to embezzlement and fraud. Tim tells his lawyer that he tried to move some cash around the night before, but his lawyer tells him they are well beyond that and the police will have frozen his assets already and that being linked to fraud is the least of his worries right now. Tim's lawyer tells him that he is likely to lose everything, including his house, and is facing at least a few months in federal jail.

At the security office, Gaitok is looking at the gun he needs to learn to use when Mook turns up in her traditional dance costume and looks a million dollars. She asks him about his meeting but he is evasive and offers to walk her to the stage for her performance. But he forgets to lock the gun away and leaves it out on the desk in the security office.

As Tim gets off the phone with his lawyer he yells at him that he would rather be dead than tell his family they're poor and that he is going to jail. As he hangs up Tim sees the gun that Gaitok left out, and when Gaitok gets back to the office he panics when he finds it gone.

At his huge house on the beach, Gary is looking up Belinda on social media, knowing that she has worked out who he is and could report him to the police. As he scrolls through her social media he sees a picture of her with her son, Zion, and is clearly plotting something bad.

The White Lotus season 3 airs in the US on Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO and Max. In the UK new episodes land on Sky Atlantic and NOW every Monday.

The White Lotus season 3 sees a new batch of ultra-wealthy guests heading to a luxury hotel on the sunny shores of Koh Samui in Thailand.

But, once again, they're about to see their trip of a lifetime descend into a living nightmare as the series opens with a flash forward where we see at least one character meet a grisly end.

The holidaymakers this time around include successful businessman Timothy and his family, while actor Jaclyn has brought her two best friends to the resort for a much-needed girls' catch-up. Then there is free spirit Chelsea, who arrives with her tetchy boyfriend Rick. But as each resort guest finds their holiday thrown off course, who will make it home from the vacation in one piece?

Here is everything that happens in The White Lotus season 3 episode 3...

The third episode opens with Victoria having a dream that she is at the beach by her house back in the US, and she is walking into the sea at night as a tsunami comes from nowhere, crashing over her. She wakes to find Tim on the phone secretly whispering, but she still doesn't know about his money laundering dramas going on at home.

At breakfast, Piper suggests that her mom's dream might be foretelling something bad is going to happen, while Tim looks quietly panicked. Tim's phone keeps on ringing at the table, which annoys Piper as there is a phone ban at the resort, but it gets to the point where he can't ignore it and rushes off to answer, leaving everyone worrying something is wrong. It is Tim's assistant on the phone who tells him the FBI has arrived at his office and is looking for him.

As he is getting his breakfast, Rick sees hotel owner, Sritala, in a meeting and goes to gatecrash, wanting to get more information on her trip to Bangkok later that day. He pretends to be a producer and says that he would like to set her up with someone who would like to cast her, she is flattered and gives him her card. When he gets back to the table, Chelsea quizzes him on what he was saying and he tells her it is none of her business and that he is going to Bangkok the following day. Chelsea is miffed and asks what she is meant to do while he is gone, to which he rudely replies maybe she can find another sugar daddy to sponge off.

Kate, Laurie and Jaclyn are also having breakfast when Valentin, the health mentor, comes to remind them about their treatments for the day. The women flirt with him and once he has left, Jaclyn tells Laurie she should have a holiday fling with Valentin, which Laurie scoffs at.

As Sritala leaves breakfast, resort security officer Gaitok sees her and she thanks him for his bravery in the robbery the previous day. He tells her it is no problem and that he loves working for her and her husband, Jim, and that if she ever needs another bodyguard then he would be up for the job.

Pam arrives to see Tim and his family, and while Saxon is more concerned about the blender that she has brought so that he can make protein shakes, Tim is secretly panicking about what the FBI might find at his office. The rest of the family is oblivious to his turmoil, and Victoria is thinking about nothing other than her next massage. Pam lets slip that Victoria has booked some posture correction therapy for Lachlan, and he isn't impressed. With Tim ignoring his phone, Terry from their office, where Saxon also works, starts calling Saxon's phone, so in a desperate moment to stop his son from answering their phones and finding out what he has done, Tim suggests everyone puts their devices in Pam's bag that she will lock away for the duration of the holiday like she suggested when they arrived. Piper thinks it is a great idea, but Saxon is fuming, and it takes some ego fluffing from Tim to get his son to part with his phone and laptop.

Pornchai tells Belinda that they are going to have dinner later that evening, but first, she is going to meet the rest of the resort's spa staff and learn more about their treatments.

While Gaitok tells Mook that he has offered to go to Bangkok with Sritala and she seems impressed, Rick goes for another counseling session with Amrita. He tells her that this isn't his sort of thing, but she eventually gets him to open up and he talks about his father being a good man but that he himself has done some bad things in his life.

Saxon tells his younger brother Lachlan that now they haven't got their phones all week, he is going to make it his mission to make sure Lachlan loses his virginity this week. Lachlan seems unimpressed, but he is even more unimpressed when he goes to his posture session and he is told he has defensive body language.

By the pool, Chloe tells Chelsea that her boyfriend Gary barely talks to her about his ex-wife and that all she knows is that she was depressed and took her own life by walking out into the sea and never coming back. Rick arrives and tells Chelsea he is going into town, and she runs after him - meanwhile, Saxon jumps onto her now vacant sunlounger and introduces himself to Chloe.

In town, Rick buys a joint and drags Chelsea to a snake show, but he feels sorry for all the poisonous snakes in the cages and lets them all out of the tanks. But when Chelsea comes to see what he is doing, she is bitten by a venomous snake and the people at the snake sanctuary race her off to the hospital while Rick is left to follow behind in a panic.

Thankfully Chelsea is okay after being bitten by a cobra, and at dinner that evening Chloe points out Chelsea has had two brushes with death in the last two days. Chloe jokes that perhaps Chelsea and Rick shouldn't come on Gary's boat trip tomorrow as they might bring bad luck.

Back at the resort, Victoria tells Tim he looks tired and convinces him to take one of her sleeping tablets.

At dinner, Kate, Laurie and Jaclyn talk about Laurie's healing session with Valentin that day. Kate says she doesn't believe in the healing side of things and reveals that she goes to church every weekend with her family and has done so ever since they moved to Texas. Jaclyn is shocked by this revelation and asks if it is weird that she has to mix with Texans who all voted for Trump, and it comes out that Kate votes Independent and her husband is a Republican. The atmosphere around the table gets very awkward as Trump is mentioned again and everyone just focuses on eating their dinner in silence.

Belinda and Pornchai have dinner together and she tells him how much she is enjoying Thailand, and that she was depressed before she arrived at the resort becasue her boss died in terrible circumstances and that a rich woman who was going to fund her business flaked when she met a man. She is, of course, talking about Tanya, and then she suddenly realizes that she knows the man she recognized at the bar the night before and that it was Greg, Tanya's husband, or Gary, Chloe's boyfriend as we know him in this series.

Belinda approaches Gary at dinner where he is with Chloe, Chelsea and Rick, and says she knows him from The White Lotus in Maui... he is shocked to see her and pretends he doesn't know her. She asks if he is called Greg and was married to someone called Tanya, and he denies it and says his name is Gary. Belinda makes her apologies, but it is clear that she knows he is lying.

Victoria and her kids have dinner, but Tim isn't there becasue he is still out cold after taking a sleeping pill.

At the entrance to the hotel Gaitok's boss tells him to be in for 7 am the following day as he has a meeting with the hotel manager. Gaitok is worried he is in trouble but his boss won't reveal what it is about and tells him to be on time.

Later that evening Rick leaves a voicemail for someone called Frank and tells him he is coming to Bangkok the next day - he says he needs his help with a few things and asks him to call him back.

Pornchai walks Belinda back to her room after dinner and he is a bit drunk and comments that he hopes she has good dreams of him. She is bemused by his flirting and goes into her room, but while she is indoors she gets spooked when she hears a strange noise.

Kate also hears something outside her room and it is Laurie and Jaclyn are talking about the fact she clearly voted for Trump and they're not sure how she could have changed so much.

In his room, Tim tracks down Victoria's stash of sleeping pills and takes another one before going back to bed. Victoria asks him if something is wrong, but he fobs her off and doesn't tell her about the money laundering.

The White Lotus season 3 airs in the US on Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO and Max. In the UK new episodes land on Sky Atlantic and NOW every Monday.

The White Lotus is back on screens, and fans already have a favourite character. Parker Posey plays Victoria Ratliff, a southern wife and mother who has joined the Thailand retreat with her family—and viewers are big fans of her portrayal.

The White Lotus' third series continues to get fans talking on social media as the series is launched weekly in the UK.

The first episode caused quite a stir on Gogglebox in the UK, with some viewers threatening to boycott the show over an incest storyline.

While over on X (formerly Twitter), The White Lotus viewers questioned the ‘yellow tint’ regarding the grading effect of the show. Whatever you think of the dark comedy, it’s clearly getting everyone talking online.

And it's new character, Victoria Ratliff, that's earned fans' approval online, with viewers praising her 'impressive' performance.

Viewers were quick to comment on X, with one writing, 'Started watching The White Lotus (season 3) and I find myself on the "let's praise Parker Posey" side of that debate.

'Her depiction so far of a woman addicted to lorazepam and who knows what the hell else is impressive.'

While another said, 'I know im like two weeks late to this but parker posey is doing something really incredible on the white lotus.'

Meanwhile another said, 'Per usual Parker Posey and Goggins are stealing everything that's not nailed down, but Patrick Schwarzenegger is really funny on White Lotus as the perfect embodiment of "Duke-guy".'

To which another fan of the US drama replied, 'The people who think the family is unrealistic haven’t spent any time with southern country club people.

'I love how they expect the workers in Thailand to be well aware of the Duke/UNC rivalry. Little touches like Schwarzenegger’s tucked in polos and sunglass strap… Amazing.'

Meanwhile, another said, 'Posey was such an inspired pick to basically play a Christopher Guest character.'

The third season of The White Lotus aired in the UK on Sunday, 16th Feb, 2025. New episodes are released weekly on Sundays. You can watch The White Lotus on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

The White Lotus season 3 sees a new batch of ultra-wealthy guests heading to a luxury hotel on the sunny shores of Koh Samui in Thailand.

But, once again, they're about to see their trip of a lifetime descend into a living nightmare as the series opens with a flash forward where we see at least one character meet a grisly end.

The holidaymakers this time around include successful businessman Timothy and his family, while actor Jaclyn has brought her two best friends to the resort for a much-needed girls' catch-up. Then there is free spirit Chelsea, who arrives with her tetchy boyfriend Rick. But as each resort guest finds their holiday thrown off course, who will make it home from the vacation in one piece?

Here is everything that happens in The White Lotus season 3 episode 2...

The second episode opens on the same night that episode 1 ended, with Kate and Jaclyn sitting chatting after dinner about Laurie and how much her divorce must have hurt her and her daughter, Ellie. Kate talks about how Ellie has been thrown out of two schools for hitting and throwing furniture, Kate thinks it is because Laurie raised her daughter in New York.

They then talk about how Laurie has always been defined by her career, but Jaclyn points out that Laurie never got that promotion to partner that she talked about and they talk like they are sympathetic, but the underlying tone of their conversation is judgemental and mean.

The women talk about how she looks tired and defeated, despite the fact they both said to her face that she looks great, and then they judge her on her drinking and talk about how much wine she had with dinner. As they are talking, Laurie scares them by banging on the door, and as soon as they let her in they say they were just talking about how great she looks and how they can't wait to spend the week together.

The next morning as everyone gets up after their first night at The White Lotus Resort, Belinda gets ready for her first day learning on the job, while Gaitok asks Mook if she will have lunch with him as he has something important to talk to her about.

At breakfast, Kate corners Victoria who is eating with her family, and tells her that she recognizes her from somewhere and it turns out they went to a baby shower for their mutual friend, Claire, years ago. Victoria is rude and clearly doesn't remember Kate, and the whole conversation is awkward.

When Kate leaves, Victoria's son, Lochlan, tells her she was rude but she doesn't seem to care. Elsewhere, Mook comes to see Chelsea and Rick and goes through their treatments at the spa that morning. Chelsea is looking forward to her massage, while Rick is annoyed she has booked him in for a stress-reducing meditation treatment that he tells her he won't be going to. She reveals that she made a new friend at the bar the previous night and she has asked them to finner, and Chelsea tells Rick she accepted the invitation, which he's cross about. Chelsea tells Rick he will get on with Chloe's boyfriend becasue they have a lot in common, like the fact they are both old and going bald.

Valentin, the health mentor, comes to see Kate, Laurie and Jaclyn and tells them he is looking forward to working with them all - Kate and Jaclyn joke that Laurie needs to flirt with him as she is the only single one between them.

At the spa, the Ratliff family gets their individual relaxation schedules, but Timothy just wants to go to the gym. Meanwhile, Belinda talks with Pornchai from the spa and they agree to give each other their signature treatment and then they can compare notes afterward.

As his family has their treatments, Timothy calls his assistant at home and she says that she hasn't heard from his colleague that he was trying to get hold of, but that someone from the Washington Post was trying to get hold of him, meaning a second newspaper is after an interview.

As Chelsea has her massage, which she talks all the way through, Rick goes for his stress-relieving session with spa worker, Amrita. She asks him about his stress levels and he says he has always been stressed even when he was a child becasue his father was murdered and his mother was a drug addict who overdosed when he was 10.

Gaitok tells Mook over lunch that he likes her, that they are from the same town and her brothers even like him. He asks her on a date, but it seems she doesn't feel the same way, becasue she jokes about the date, telling him to stop acting weird and to just eat his lunch.

Over lunch, Chelsea asks Rick how his session with Amrita was but he fobs her off and says there is no way he is going back for another session. Chloe comes to the table to see if Chelsea wants to hang out together, and Chelsea makes excuses for why Rick is so rude and walks off with her new friend.

At the beach, Kate, Laurie and Jaclyn are hanging out and Jaclyn asks Laurie how her session with Valentin went. She tells her friends that he told her she had the stats of a woman half her age, and Jaclyn says he said the same thing to her... it then gets competitive between the women about who got what readings for hydration and fat levels before talk turns to Jaclyn and her new husband, who she says she is addicted to. Laurie, who is divorced, says that she has only been married a year, so give it time, and the conversation turns awkward and sour.

Chelsea and Chloe complain to one another about their rude boyfriends and Chloe says she has Gary's credit card and they should go to the resort shop and spend his money.

Lachlan and Piper are sitting on hammocks in the sea when Lachlan tells his sister that their older brother Saxon, who is obsessed with the opposite sex, says that Piper has never slept with anyone, which is weird, becasue she is hot. Piper is horrified that her brother is talking about her like that and swims off, disgusted.

At the front gate, Valentin arrives on a motorbike and distracts Gaitok with talk about a fight that he is going to that weekend and asking if he would like a ticket. As they are talking, a black car drives into the resort, and a man jumps out with a mask on and his hood up... he storms into the resort shop and gets out a gun, pointing it at Chelsea who is shopping with Chloe. He smashes the jewelry cases open and takes out the necklaces and stuffs them into his backpack. He then runs out of the shop and back into the car, which drives towards the gate... he gets out and forces the barrier, but Gaitok tries to stop him. However, they end up in a fight and Gaitok is knocked out. The car speeds off and later the police and an ambulance arrive to take statements and check Gaitok over, while Chelsea struggles with being held at gunpoint.

Mook comes to see Gaitok to make sure he is okay - she says he is very brave and she was worried about him, which he likes and we see an attraction between them both.

At dinner, Chloe is miffed about missing seeing the thief as she was in the changing room, but Chelsea tells her that she almost died and she was lucky to miss it. Rick seems pleased that as a result of Chelsea being caught up in the robbery they have got their room for free for the duration of their stay, but things are awkward when Chloe's boyfriend, Gary, doesn't say much. They end up talking about work, but neither of the men gives away what they do, both claiming their careers cover 'this and that'. While they are talking, Belinda sees Gary from afar, and it looks like she might recognize him from somewhere - while she seems to struggle to place him, we know it is Greg from seasons 1 and 2, who was married to Jennifer Coolidge's character, Tanya.

As people finish dinner the evening entertainment begins and hotel owner, Sritala, sings as her staff dance - but while everyone enjoys the show, Rick is fixated on Sritala, clearly still determined to somehow speak to her husband. Later, he overhears Sritala telling Jaclyn that she is going to Bangkok the next day becasue her husband has just got out of hospital there.

Timothy finally gets through to his colleague, Kenny, at home and he is shocked when he tells him he doesn't care about the Wall Street Journal calling becasue the FBI has just been and raided his office after a whistleblower called them. Timothy tells Kenny that he promised this would never happen, but Kenny is panicking about going to jail now the police have everything from his emails to his personal documents. He tells Tim he should never have gone to Bruni and that he regrets taking the position. It turns out that Tim is now caught up in a money laundering business after doing a favor to his friend, and he starts to panic when Ken tells him that he needs to get a decent lawyer and fast. Tim's fuming becasue he 'only' made $10 million out of the scheme and now he could be facing prison. Tim tells his friend that if he mentions his name when questioned by the police, he will find him and kill him, but Kenny replies that he doesn't have to bother becasue he is going to kill himself... and the whole time Tim is talking on the phone, Gaitok is secretly listening in from his security hut.

As Jaclyn heads to bed, Kate and Laurie stay up and talk, but instead of bitching about Laurie like the previous night, Kate now talks about Jaclyn to Laurie. The women say that Jaclyn's marriage sounds fake and that she has had lots of work done to maintain her perfect complexion - both clearly jealous of their friend.

As Tim tries to get himself a lawyer and fast, Gary tells Chelsea that he needs to go to Bangkok, but he won't tell her why and she doesn't seem to mind that he is so mysterious.

But what business does he have with Jim Hollinger?

The White Lotus season 3 airs in the US on Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO and Max. In the UK new episodes land on Sky Atlantic and NOW every Monday.

The White Lotus has returned to screens — and it was always a drama that would get everybody talking.

The first episode of The White Lotus aired Sunday, 16th Feb, and viewers have been catching up on the first instalment on streaming platforms this week.

But while the much-anticipated third series of the show has generated a lot of interest, some fans were less than impressed with the first episode for one key reason — the colour grading. Some called the yellow tint 'off' and distracting. However, others were impressed by the effect, which has become the show's trademark.

'That yellow filter in white lotus looks so off to me. i might watch just to see if it's a consistent look across the entire series,' wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter).

Meanwhile another said, 'The question I have about white lotus is: did they get rid of the yellow screen on the trailer or…?'

While another wrote, with a scathing review, 'Need a minute to vent about the epitome of screen time wastefulness that is White Lotus. What is even the plot? Why is it graded so yellow?

'Why is literally every character a douche or imbecile? Literally, answer me this - what is there to like?'

And another wrote, 'Color grading in the white lotus hurt my eyes.'

While another said, 'Currently watching the white lotus and it's okay. Lisa's debut in acting and she did so well. I am just bothered with one thing. What's with yellow grading? Sakit sa mata.'

But not everyone was so critical, with another writing, 'the color grading on the white lotus s3 is immaculate.'

And another more positive fan wrote, 'I love the way they’ve shot The White Lotus - Thailand. The series Colour Grading lent warm hues in the foreground which helps by contrasting the dull sky (usually flat). Oh, and Lisa of Blackpink is สวยงาม sǔai ngaam.'

While another said, 'I love the colour grading on White Lotus. Rewatching season two for… reasons.'

The third season of The White Lotus aired in the UK on Sunday, 16th Feb, 2025. New episodes are released weekly on Sundays. You can watch The White Lotus on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

The smash-hit anthology series is as popular as ever: The White Lotus season 3 hit screens on Sunday, February 16 and reviews suggest that it's just as fantastic as the past two seasons. So it's time you found a way to watch it!

Each season of The White Lotus follows the workers and visitors at a different luxury resort as the employees help the guests sort out their drama, and there's usually a murder or two along the way. Season 3 is set in Thailand, following Hawaii and Sicily for past seasons.

Natasha Rothwell is the one recurring cast member and new actors are joining like Jason Isaac, Michelle Monaghan, Leslie Bibb, Parker Posey, Walton Goggins, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Aimee Lou Wood and Carrie Coon. Most of them have secrets to hide or reasons they need this escape.

Want to watch The White Lotus season 3? Here's everything you need to know in order to see it.

How to watch The White Lotus season 3 in the US

You can either watch The White Lotus season 3 on cable or on TV, and they'll both come out at the same time so neither is quicker.

On cable, you can watch episodes on HBO weekly from Sunday, February 16, with each airing at 9 pm ET/PT. I'll share the release schedule below.

HBO is a channel available from certain cable broadcasters, and a few live TV streaming services offer it as part of add-on packages. These include Hulu with Live TV, DirecTV and YouTube TV.

Alternatively, you can watch episodes of The White Lotus season 3 by using the streaming service Max, with each landing on the platform when they air on HBO. The previous two seasons can be watched on Max too.

Max starts at $9.99 for its cheapest plan but that will make you watch ads amongst your videos. There's a $16.99 plan for people who don't like commercials as this allows for ad-free streaming.

Episode release schedule in the US

Episodes will release every Sunday, here's the full release schedule:

• Episode 1 — Sunday, February 16
• Episode 2 — Sunday, February 23
• Episode 3 — Sunday, March 2
• Episode 4 — Sunday, March 9
• Episode 5 — Sunday, March 16
• Episode 6 — Sunday, March 23
• Episode 7 — Sunday, March 30
• Episode 8 — Sunday, April 6

How to watch The White Lotus season 3 in the UK

To watch The White Lotus season 3 in the UK, you'll have to sign up for either Sky TV (on any of its plans) or Now TV. Both will have the same release schedule with episodes releasing every Monday from Monday, February 17.

Sky TV recently saw a pricing overhaul so it's now cheaper than ever to sign up, which is good news for people who want to see The White Lotus season 3. The cheapest plan costs £15 per month and it includes Sky Atlantic's video-on-demand library. Sometimes there are also Sky TV deals which you can use to save more money.

Alternatively you can use Now TV which is cheaper at £9.99 but doesn't include built-in Discovery Plus and Netflix as part of a subscription.

Episode release schedule in the UK

Episodes will release every Monday, here's the full release schedule:

• Episode 1 — Monday, February 17
• Episode 2 — Monday, February 24
• Episode 3 — Monday, March 3
• Episode 4 — Monday, March 10
• Episode 5 — Monday, March 17
• Episode 6 — Monday, March 24
• Episode 7 — Monday, March 31
• Episode 8 — Monday, April 7

How to watch The White Lotus season 3 in Australia

In Australia, episodes of The White Lotus will air on the streaming service Binge, and they'll land every Monday beginning on Monday, February 17.

Binge starts at just $10 per month but for high-quality streaming you'll need to opt for the $19 per month Premium plan.

The first two seasons of The White Lotus are available to watch on Binge t

Episode release schedule in Australia

Episodes will release every Monday, here's the full release schedule:

• Episode 1 — Monday, February 17
• Episode 2 — Monday, February 24
• Episode 3 — Monday, March 3
• Episode 4 — Monday, March 10
• Episode 5 — Monday, March 17
• Episode 6 — Monday, March 24
• Episode 7 — Monday, March 31
• Episode 8 — Monday, April 7

How to watch The White Lotus season 3 everywhere else

If you're going to be away from your normal TV setup but still want to watch X, you might run into some problems. Thankfully, you can solve this exact issue with a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

A VPN lets you change your IP address to that of the area of what you want to watch, meaning you can tune in to your favorite X or other content even if you're not there. Our favorite is NordVPN, which is the No. 1-rated VPN in the world right now according to our VPN experts.

How to use a VPN to watch any stream

• Download the app at NordVPN
• Choose the location of the streaming service you want to watch (UK, US, etc)
• Navigate to the streaming service and start watching!

When we last saw spa manager Belinda Lindsay (Natasha Rothwell), spa manager of the Hawaii resort, in the season one finale of The White Lotus, she'd just learnt the hard way that you should never put your faith in a flighty rich person.

After forming a bond with grieving guest Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge), Tanya offered to bankroll Belinda's dream of setting up her own wellness business — but Tanya ended up bailing on their plans and, although she did leave Belinda some money before checking out, it was far less than they'd been discussing and not enough for Belinda to start thinking about handing in her notice.

As The White Lotus season 3 arrives Belinda is also back as she travels to one of the chain's other resorts in Thailand as part of a research program for her work. But what awaits her upon her arrival — and how is she coping after being left in the lurch by Tanya?

We caught up with Natasha to find out more...

Natasha Rothwell interview for The White Lotus season 3

The White Lotus season three launches in the US on Sunday February 16 at 9pm ET/PT on HBO and streaming simultaneously on Max. In the UK, it launches on Monday February 17 at 2am and 9pm on Sky Atlantic.

2025 is going to be the best TV year ever. I know, it's a bold statement at the start of a new year, but it's true. There are so many shows either debuting or returning to our TV screens in 2025 that fans are in for a big treat. The biggest problem won't be what to watch but rather how to watch it all. The WTW team picked the 15 shows we can't wait to see in 2025, but the list just scratches the surface of what's coming.

It's not just new and returning network dramas. We're talking big names, big franchises and huge concepts. It really feels like it's the biggest year for TV because the stars have aligned that way; either things were already in the works for 2025 or production delays (remember the 2024 Writers and Screen Actors Guild strikes that shut down film and TV production for months) led to pushing shows to later premiere dates. Whatever the case, with so many new and returning shows coming up, 2025 is will no doubt be a veritable feast for our TV-viewing sensibilities.

I'll never forget when The Last of Us aired the final episode of its first season in March 2023. HBO quickly announced the apocalyptic series based on the bestselling video game would return for a second season...in 2025. 2025! At the time I thought there was no way it could possibly take that long for the show to return, even with all of the CGI and post-production work that goes into a series of that magnitude. But at long last, 2025 has finally arrived, and The Last of Us season 2 will grace our TV screens at some point this year (the actual release date is not available as of this writing).

That's just one of the many big shows premiering this year. Whet your appetite with a look at this list of some of the others we're excited about:

• Severance season 2
• The White Lotus season 3
• And Just Like That season 3
• Daredevil: Born Again
• Wednesday season 2
• Ironheart
• The Studio
• The Night Agent season 2
• Yellowjackets season 3
• Suits LA
• 1923 season 2
• The Handmaid's Tale season 6
• Your Friends and Neighbors
• The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2
• The Pitt
• Alien: Earth
• IT: Welcome to Derry
• Carrie
• Black Mirror season 7
• Mayfair Witches season 2
• The Bondsman
• Stranger Things season 5
• Dexter: Resurrection
• The Conjuring
• Crystal Lake
• Shifting Gears
• The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3
• Doc
• The Gilded Age season 3
• Hacks season 4
• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
• Good American Family
• Mid-Century Modern
• All's Fair
• Duster
• The Righteous Gemstones season 4

Not only is that not a complete list, but we're not even talking about all of the new and returning reality shows and the mid-season returns of favorite new shows like Doctor Odyssey, Elsbeth season 2 and Matlock, nor are we talking about the new seasons of those same shows coming in the fall (pending their renewal, of course).

What this means is that our TVs will be chock full of quality programming all year long. We won't be limited to the traditional TV season from fall to spring, as there are too many shows to be contained to any one season. That said, though we're still awaiting some release dates we're almost certainly guaranteed to have at least one must-watch show on every week of the year!

Over the years, HBO has developed a knack for creating hit shows.

From The Sopranos to The Game of Thrones to House of the Dragon to Euphoria, the network just has a gift for putting forth some of the most provocative and critically-acclaimed programs TV watchers have ever seen. With that said, it should come as no surprise that HBO found another hit with The White Lotus.

Created by Mike White, the series has already made quite an impact on pop culture since debuting in 2021. The show has amassed 10 Emmys, two Golden Globes, two Critics Choice Awards and serves as a hot topic on many social media platforms. With all this steam in the show's sails, there is just one pressing question fans have. When is season 3?

Well, here's everything we know about The White Lotus season 3.

The next episode of The White Lotus season 3

All episodes of The White Lotus season 3 are available on HBO in the US and on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.

Check out this sneak peek of the penultimate episode.

The White Lotus is an HBO original, so those in the US need a subscription to the premium channel to watch the show live on TV; HBO is a part of cable/satellite TV packages. The series also streams on Max.

The White Lotus season 3 cast

We know that season 1 star Natasha Rothwell is coming back to the series for season 3. She'll be reprising the role of Belinda.

Joining Rothwell in The White Lotus season 3 are Leslie Bibb (About My Father), Dom Hetrakul (The Family), Jason Isaacs (Archie), Michelle Monaghan (Spinning Gold), Parker Posey (The Staircase) and Tayme Thapthimthong (Paradox).

The White Lotus season 3 plot

The White Lotus follows hotel guests and employees as they navigate the complexities of their lives. For the guests, vacationing at a luxury resort should be a time of rest and relaxation, but that's often not the case as they spend their time in drama and chaos. Meanwhile, White Lotus employees usually have to help the guests with their conflicts, and yet, find time to deal with their own.

Here is the official logline for season 3:

"The social satire is set at an exclusive Thai resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week."

As more information about the season 3 plot becomes available, we'll pass along the update.

The White Lotus season 3 trailer

Check out the official trailer for The White Lotus season 3 right here:

We might have a little bit of time to wait before the new season of The White Lotus, but that doesn't mean the excitement hasn't started building up already. 

The White Lotus actor Natasha Rothwell has said that fans will need to "buckle up" ahead of the show's much-hyped next season, which is due to be set in Thailand. 

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Natasha revealed that when she read the script for the upcoming season, "I gasped out loud a minimum of five times and this was just me reading them. The scripts are a testament to [creator] Mike [White]'s skill and ability to tell the most smart and entertaining stories."

Natasha is due to make a return to the hit HBO drama, which will hit screens in 2026 after the Hollywood strikes delayed filming. 

She continued to say in the interview, "I mean, everything that he does is like a lesson to me as an actor and a performer. And as a writer myself, he takes folks on a journey. Everyone needs to buckle up, because it's going to get real!"

She also went on to praise how showrunner Mike White has developed her character, explaining, "Mike is so collaborative. When we did the first season, we sat down and talked a lot about Belinda and he was so receptive to feedback. So we plan to approach it the same way."

Before saying: "But all credit to him, what I love working with him is that he understands that Belinda's POV is something that he doesn't possess — so he's really interested in my feedback, and really wants to make it authentic. 

"And so I'm just so lucky to work with a director like him who understands the value of having me in the role and what I can bring."

The White Lotus is due to hit screens in 2025. In the US, you can rewatch your favourite episodes from previous seasons on HBO Max, while UK fans can do so via Sky TV and NOW TV. 

It didn't take long for a return trip to The White Lotus to be booked, as The White Lotus season 2 was picked up following the first season being a breakout hit that would eventually go on to win 10 Emmys, including Outstanding Limited Series.

The White Lotus was created by Mike White, who also wrote the movie and TV series School of Rock, HBO’s Enlightened, Nacho Libre and Brad’s Status. White is once again at the helm writing and directing this second season, which features an all new location, an almost entirely new cast, but plenty more dysfunction.

Here is everything we know about The White Lotus season 2.

When is the next The White Lotus season 2 episode?

The White Lotus season 2 concludes with its final episode on Sunday, December 11, airing at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO in the US and streaming simultaneously on HBO Max. UK audiences can watch the finale on Monday, December 12, on Sky TV's Sky Atlantic and streaming on NOW TV.

Check out a quick tease of what's in store below and read our theories of what will happen in The White Lotus season 2 finale:

The White Lotus plot

The White Lotus season 1 took place at an upscale resort in Hawai'i and followed the pretty horrible vacations of a few guests and the struggles of the resort staff. It doesn't seem like the playbook is changing up too much, but a change of location to the Italian island of Sicily and some new (and one familiar) face provide the series refresh.

Here is the official synopsis for The White Lotus season 2:

"The social satire is set at an exclusive Sicilian resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week."

What to Watch sat down with members of The White Lotus cast, who gave a preview on the "chaotic" season 2 , as well as some great behind-the-scenes stories.

The White Lotus season 2 episodes

Here are the synopses for The White Lotus season 2 episodes that have aired and are available to stream right now.

The White Lotus season 2 episode 1, "Ciao"
"Two couples navigate awkwardness, an Italian American family deals with a conspicuous absence, and Tanya arrives with her new assistant."

The White Lotus season 2 episode 2, "Italian Dream"
"Tanya enlists Greg to help her live out her perfect Sicilian day. Harper questions Cameron and Daphne's claims about their marriage."

The White Lotus season 2 episode 3, "Bull Elephants"
"While Daphne loops Harper into an off-resort excursion, Ethan and Cameron get in some bro time. Tanya seeks advice from a tarot reader."

The White Lotus season 2 episode 4, "In the Sandbox"
"Tanya and Portia spend a day with charming ex-pats Quentin and Jack. Harper is blindsided by shocking evidence from Ethan's night out."

The White Lotus season 2 episode 5, "That's Amore"
"Tanya and Portia embark on a whirlwind excursion with Quentin and Jack. Unsure what to believe, Harper gets real with Cam and Daphne."

The White Lotus season 2 episode 6, "Abductions"
"Ethan grows suspicious of Cam. Tanya gives Portia an opaque warning about Jack. Lucia helps the Di Grassos search for long-lost relatives."

The White Lotus cast

The White Lotus season 2 features an entirely new cast, save for two holdovers from the first season — Emmy-winner Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya McQuoid-Hunt and Jon Gries as her husband, Greg. Coolidge is joined in the cast by F. Murray Abraham, Adam DiMarco, Meghann Fahy, Jon Gries, Beatrice Grannò, Tom Hollander, Sabrina Impacciatore, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, Aubrey Plaza, Haley Lu Richardson, Will Sharpe, Simona Tabasco and Leo Woodall.

Here are who each of the actors are playing and their character descriptions:

• F. Murray Abraham as Bert Di Grasso: visiting Sicily with his son, Dominic, and grandson, Albie, Bert is getting frail, yet still sees himself as virile and capable.
• Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya McQuoid-Hunt: a wealthy, unstable woman, traveling with her husband, Greg, and assistant, Portia.
• Adam DiMarco as Albie Di Grasso: Dominic’s son and Bert’s grandson, Albie is a sweet and observant college grad, who often serves as his family’s peacekeeper.
• Meghann Fahy as Daphne Babcock: a stay-at-home mom visiting Italy with her husband, Cameron, and another couple, Ethan and Harper.
• Jon Gries as Greg: Tanya’s husband, who is less than pleased to find her assistant invited on their romantic getaway.
• Beatrice Grannò as Mia: a Sicilian local, Mia is a talented singer in search of her big break.
• Tom Hollander as Quentin: an English expat, vacationing with his friends and his nephew, Jack.
• Sabrina Impacciatore as Valentina: the passionate, dedicated manager in charge of the White Lotus resort in Taormina, who expects perfection from her staff.
• Michael Imperioli as Dominic Di Grasso: a Hollywood producer visiting Sicily with his elderly father, Bert, and post-college son, Albie, to explore their ancestral roots.
• Theo James as Cameron Babcock: a wildly successful businessman from a wealthy family, Cameron is vacationing with his wife Daphne, his college roommate, Ethan, and Ethan’s wife, Harper.
• Aubrey Plaza as Harper Spiller: newly wealthy after her husband finds professional success, Harper and Ethan are visiting Italy with Ethan’s college roommate, Cameron, and Cameron’s wife, Daphne. 
• Haley Lu Richardson as Portia: a small-town girl and recent college graduate, Portia is traveling with her boss, Tanya, hoping for adventure.
• Will Sharpe as Ethan Spiller: after recently striking professional success, Ethan and his wife, Harper, are invited to vacation in Italy with his college roommate, Cameron, and Cameron’s wife, Daphne.
• Simona Tabasco as Lucia: a Sicilian local who frequents the White Lotus resort in search of work and opportunity amongst the wealthy clientele.
• Leo Woodall as Jack: a magnetic guest staying at The White Lotus with his uncle, Quentin.

The White Lotus season 2 trailer

The White Lotus season 2 trailer is here and as Jennifer Coolidge says in its opening moments, this is certainly going to be another memorable stay at the resort. As the trailer teases, it'll be more than just the scenic Italian countryside and beaches contributing to that, as scandal and death are on the way. Can't wait.

How to watch The White Lotus

For US audiences, The White Lotus is an HBO original, meaning they need access to the premium cable network to watch. The good news is there is more than one way to get access. The first is to have HBO as part of a traditional pay-TV subscription (many providers offer it though it generally costs a little extra), while another is to sign up for the HBO Max streaming service, which releases the shows simultaneously and allows for easy on-demand viewing.

HBO Max is not available in the UK yet, but the series is available for British viewers to watch, on Sky TV, streaming on NOW TV.

Is there going to be a White Lotus season 3?

Another trip to The White Lotus is in the works. HBO has renewed the dark comedy for season 3, as season 2 is about half way through its slate of episodes. The only information shared about the new season is that it'll feature new characters and a new setting. 

Fans are thoroughly enjoying another messy vacation with The White Lotus season 2, as this Italian escapade has put complicated relationships between married couples, father and sons and more front and center. But hanging over everything has been the fact that we know multiple dead bodies are going to be found at the resort, revealed in the opening moments of the first episode.

It seems that just about anyone from The White Lotus season 2 cast could find themselves dead when all is said and done, but as we eagerly await the conclusion of this season of the Mike White anthology series (we thankfully already know we’re getting The White Lotus season 3), there are a lot of theories going around. Not just who is going to wind up dead, but some other shady dealings as well.

We're digging into some of the biggest theories out there for The White Lotus season 2 finale and what we think may happen.

Quentin is working with Greg to blackmail Tonya

Tonya (Jennifer Coolidge) came to Sicily for a vacation with her husband Greg (Jon Gries). But Greg was constantly frustrated by his wife and ended up leaving, saying he had a work emergency. With Greg gone, Tonya becomes fast friends with Quentin (Tom Hollander), a gay British ex-pat with his own villa in Palermo.

However, Quentin and Tonya's meeting may not have been a coincidence. In Palermo, Quentin tells her a story about how when he was younger he fell in love with a straight cowboy in Wyoming and that even after all this time he would do anything for him. Then, in Quentin's villa Tonya finds a picture of a younger Quentin with the cowboy, who certainly looks like Greg. She gets a bit distracted though, as she ends up having a wild night with a young mafioso, doing drugs and eventually having sex.

It feels like a setup by Quentin and Greg to try and blackmail Tonya. It could have been Quentin that Greg was on the phone with in the first few episodes, arranging for them to gather evidence on Tonya that would allow Greg to divorce her and get a good chunk of her money, which he'd then share with Quentin, who as we've learned is desperately strapped for cash.

Prediction: Though everything seems lined up for Quentin and Greg to ruin Tonya, we feel that some wrinkle awaits that is going to allow her to foil (intentionally or unintentionally) Quentin and Greg's plan. 

Lucia is playing Albie and the Di Grassos

Albie (Adam DiMarco) has seemed to rebound after Portia (Haley Lu Richardson) dumped him for Jack (Leo Woodall), spending more time with Lucia (Simona Tabasco). Even though Albie knows she is an escort, he seems to believe they have a real connection, which is why he is concerned for Lucia when she is followed by the man she told Albie is her pimp.

This all seems to be a ploy by Lucia to get more out of the Di Grassos. Lucia has proved to be a very shrewd businesswoman, able to read the varying guests she has come across. Lucia is probably playing to Albie's sweet, naive nature that she is a damsel in distress. Because she was previously hired by Dominic (Michael Imperioli) and Albie was able to get money easily enough to pay her for their night together, she knows they are a deep well. Seeing the opportunity, she very well might have told a local friend (we never hear any of their interactions) to masquerade as her pimp and scare the Di Grassos into paying her more money.

Prediction: Albie discovers Lucia is playing him, which deeply hurts him, but he still ends up giving Lucia the money. 

Valentina breaks bad

Valentina (Sabrina Impacciatore) had been a repressed character all season, frustrated with her job and hiding her sexuality, though hopeful for a relationship with the receptionist Isabella (Eleonora Romandini). However, when Isabella reveals she is engaged to Rocco (Federico Ferrante), Valentina is heartbroken. Though it does lead to her first sexual relationship with a woman in Mia (Beatric Grannò), allowing her to get some of that pent-up frustrations out. But rather than sate Valentina, this could open up the floodgates.

Remember all the head statues around the hotel? In episode 1 the meaning behind those statues was explained, but to recap briefly, they're based on an old Sicilian legend, testa di moro, where a woman got revenge on a man who professed love to her but ultimately betrayed her by cutting off his head. We've seen these pop up mostly around Harper (Aubrey Plaza) and Ethan (Will Sharpe), but that feels like a bit of misdirection and could in fact inspire the hotel's manager.

Prediction: Valentina gets revenge for feeling scorned by Isabella.

The people who die are …

While revenge could be coming for Isabella, it likely isn't death. In the opening scene of The White Lotus season 2, Rocco tells Valentina it was a guest's body found in the water but other guests had been killed as well. When Valentina asks how many, Rocco says he doesn't know, only saying "a few."

Our predictions for who ends up dying in the finale are Bert (F. Murray Abraham) and Cameron (Theo James).

We think Bert is found in the water, but that there isn’t necessarily anything nefarious about it. Bert definitely took an emotional hit when the plan for a Di Grasso family reunion with Sicilian locals didn't pan out. While it hurt that their alleged family shunned them, the fact that it was women who chased them away might hurt doubly for Bert, who always told himself that no matter what his actions were, he always thought women viewed him fondly, including his wife. Perhaps this triggered a revelation in him that his philandering ways were more painful to everyone around him. Or it could just be that Bert, who had a concussion and is in his 80s anyway, has a medical condition or falls and dies.

Cameron has probably long been a favorite to die this season, but we don’t think it's by Ethan or Harper, but by his wife Daphne (Meghann Fahy). Many theories speculate Daphne is actually orchestrating a lot of what's going on with the two couples' vacation. She set up the overnight trip to Noto that gave Cameron and Ethan the opportunity to party; she also alludes to Harper that she finds ways to get back at Cameron for his infidelities, but perhaps now a personal trainer just won't cut it; another example of testa di moro.

Daphne is alone on the beach in the opening scene, so perhaps the deed is already done and she was either trying to establish her alibi or enjoying the Sicilian coast one last time.

We'll find out if any of these predictions come true when The White Lotus season 2 finale airs on Sunday, December 11, at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO and HBO Max.

The White Lotus season 2 cast is ready to check in for another disaster of vacation in the hit anthology series. The cast features all-new, big-name actors, though one of the first season’s biggest stars is coming back.

The White Lotus season 2 takes viewers to the Italian island of Sicily. There, the show once again follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week. 

Let’s meet the key guests and employees and who is playing them this season.

Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya McQuiod-Hunt

Jennifer Coolidge’s turn as Tanya in The White Lotus season 1 was a sensation and resulted in the actress winning her first ever Emmy. Fans are likely ecstatic that she is one of the few holdovers for this new season. So is Coolidge for that matter, calling the chance to return for The White Lotus season 2 a gift.

"I just think maybe deep down I really love to play someone who is kind of a mess, you know, ripped apart inside," said Coolidge of Tanya. "I think she’s someone who loves things too much and, you know, eliminates her mystery. And I think that’s why men don’t really want her, she’s just too much."

Outside of The White Lotus, Coolidge is best known for her role in American Pie, Legally Blonde and The Watcher.

Jon Gries as Greg

The only other returning cast member from The White Lotus season 1 is Jon Gries' Greg. In the first season, Greg and Tanya begin a relationship, though Greg reveals he is probably going to die soon from an illness. Well, turns out that’s not the case, as he marries Tanya and her wealth seemingly helped him beat what he was dealing with. In season 2, Greg is less than pleased to find that Tanya has brought her assistant along on their romantic getaway.

Viewers will know Gries from Napoleon Dynamite and Lost.

F. Murray Abraham as Bert Di Grasso

Bert is the eldest of three generations of Di Grasso men vacationing in Sicily to discover their roots. However, despite being a bit frail, Bert is convinced he is just as virile and capable as he was years ago.

Abraham discussed what it was like working with Michae Imperioli and Adam DiMarco, who play his family on the show:

"We got along so well and we had such respect for each other. … And what turned out to be three really different men became a unit, we became a family. … [O]ur relationships, one to the other, as individuals and as characters, was very clear; partly because of the excellent writing and partly because of the artistry of the actors."

Abraham’s other well known credits include Amadeus, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Mythic Quest.

Michael Imperioli as Dominic Di Grasso

Dominic Di Grasso, the son of Bert and father of Albie, is a Hollywood movie producer who finds himself in the middle of a big generational gap.

"My character is in an interesting position because he’s caught between these two very different generational views of male/female relationships," Imperioli said. "He sees the flaws in obviously Bert’s attitude toward women, wives, and yet he also understands a lot of it. … And the same with [Albie], he understands being enlightened about the current state of relationships, you know, the post MeToo generation and all that."

Imperioli is best known for his role as Christopher Moltisanti in The Sopranos.

Adam DiMarco as Albie Di Grasso

Albie is the youngest of the Di Grasso men on the trip. He is sweet and observant, which often puts him in the role of peacekeeper in his family.

DiMarco on working with Mike White:

"Mike is such a strong writer that a lot of it is right there on the page, and simply just showing up and being present and being true to the scene, everything is taken care of. That being said, we were obviously still allowed to play and inject parts of ourselves into the characters and into the scenes, which was really fun."

Some of DiMarco’s other credits include The Order and The Magicians.

Meghann Fahy as Daphne Sullivan

Daphne is on vacation with her husband Cameron and another couple, Ethan and Harper. It’s that dynamic with the other couple that is going to be key throughout the season, as Fahy explains:

"Witnessing sort of the genuine joy and affection between Cameron and Daphne is sort of refreshing in comparison to the other couple." However, is Daphne and Cameron’s relationship as perfect as it seems on the surface?

Fahy is also known for her role in The Bold Type.

Theo James as Cameron Sullivan

Cameron is Daphne’s wildly successful finance bro husband. While everything looks good on the surface, James teases there’s dysfunction behind the scenes. Though, "at their core it still kind of works in it’s own f***ed up way," he said.

Viewers will recognize James from The Time Traveler’s Wife, Sanditon and Divergent.

Aubrey Plaza as Harper Spiller

Part of the other couple vacationing with the Cameron and Daphne, Harper and her husband Ethan are newly wealthy. Despite agreeing to go on the trip with the Sullivans, Harper is skeptical of them, as the two couples are wildly different. Those differences are going to be key throughout the season.

"That’s what’s so fun about this show is you assume that one couple … is noble or right or smart, whatever they are, but then as you dig deeper you find that maybe this other couple, they’ve actually figured it out and they actually are navigating the world and their relationship better."

Plaza is well known for her roles on Parks & Rec, Little Demon and Safety Not Guaranteed.

Will Sharpe as Ethan Spiller

Harper’s husband Ethan recently sold his company that brings them into this new class of wealth and leads to Cameron inviting his old college buddy on an Italian vacation.

"What is also interesting is what happens to Ethan and Harper’s relationship when they’re thrown against such a different couple and how that … exposes the cracks, maybe, in their marriage, which, perhaps when we first meet them, has gone a little stale," Sharpe said.

Will Sharpe’s biggest acting role is probably Flowers, but he was also a writer on the hit series Landscappers.

Haley Lu Richardson as Portia

Tanya does not come to a White Lotus alone this time, bringing her assistant Portia along, who just wants to have an Italian adventure. But having a demanding boss in Tanya makes things difficult. Richardson believes Portia may not be as different as she thinks from Tanya.

"She can’t really see the good in any of it because just where she is at in her life. … [W]e were kind of viewing Portia as a mini Tanya. … [I]f she doesn’t get her s**t together and go to therapy and find this internal fulfillment, she could end up being a non-billionaire version of Tanya one day, which would suck."

Haley Lu Richardson’s credits include Columbus, Unpregnant and After Yang.

Sabrina Impacciatore as Valentina

Valentina is the passionate, dedicated manager of The White Lotus Sicily, who expects perfection from her staff. Murray Bartlett played the equivalent of that role in the first season of The White Lotus, but Impacciatore sees some key differences between the two resort managers:

"She is an implosive character, because Mike White, the genius he is, he wanted to write a character totally different from the explosive [Armond]. But then Valentina will reveal her real nature."

Sabrina Impacciatore has previously starred in The Passion of the Christ and There’s No Place Like Home.

Beatrice Grannó as Mia

Mia is a Sicilian local who, with her friend Lucia, bounces around the different groups vacationing at The White Lotus. She is a singer looking for her big break. That musical element to the character is something that Grannó could relate to.

"I remember that Mike … was looking for a young Italian girl who could play the piano and sing, and I was so excited because I’m also a musician and I was waiting for a character that would make me do this."

Some of Grannó’s credits include The Time of Indifference and Zero.

Simona Tabasco as Lucia

Another Silician loca, Lucia frequents The White Lotus looking for work amongst the wealthy clientele with her friend Mia.

Tabasco was very pleased with how Mike White depicted her character and the other Italians in the script: "We’re here to portray characters that are Italian, but they’re also so neutral and go beyond a specific type; so they’re human, basically."

Simona Tabasco’s credits include Perez and DOC — Nelle Tue Mani.

Tom Hollander as Quentin

Quentin is a British ex-pat vacationing with his friends and his nephew Jack at the resort. He and Tanya strike up a quick friendship.

Tom Hollander is known for roles in Pride & Prejudice, In the Loop and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Leo Woodall as Jack

Jack is Quentin’s nephew and is described as a magnetic guest of the hotel.

Leo Woodall’s previous credits include Holby City, Cherry and Vampire Academy.

The White Lotus airs on HBO and HBO Max in the US, Sky TV's Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in the UK. 

You can also check out this fun video of The White Lotus cast thinking which of their co-stars is most likely to do some outrageous things.

It’s time for another vacation to The White Lotus, as the Emmy-winning series returns Sunday, October 30 (Monday, October 31 in the UK). Fans of Mike White’s anthology series know that The White Lotus season 2 isn’t going to be any normal vacation, as another star-studded ensemble arrives with their various dysfunctions and issues that will bubble to the surface against the gorgeous Sicilian backdrop.

The new season of The White Lotus welcomes an almost entirely new cast, including Aubrey Plaza, Will Sharpe, Theo James, Meghann Fahey, Michael Imperioli, F. Murray Abraham, Adam DiMarco, Haley Lu Richardson, Sabrina Impacciatore, Simona Tabasco and Beatrice Grannó. There are however a couple of returning characters, including season 1 standout Jennifer Coolidge, coming off her Emmy win for playing Tanya, and Jon Gries as her now-husband Greg.

What to Watch got to take part in interviews with The White Lotus season 2 cast, where they discussed their reactions to watching the first season, what made them want to join the show, filming in Italy and what fans can expect with these new episodes.

What did you think of The White Lotus season 1?

Michael Imperioli: "I hadn’t seen the show when they told me there was interest in me for the part. … So I watched it and really loved it right away, I mean I got sucked into it, I watched all six episodes in a pretty short amount of time. At first I was a little bit questioning, 'OK, is this going to be some cynical statement about rich people or our current times.'… It was anything but. It was really human and the characters were very nuanced and it was really funny and very touching in a lot of ways. Extremely entertaining and compelling, I didn’t want to stop watching it. After that I was like, oh yeah, I gotta do this."

Aubrey Plaza: "I’ve been a fan of Mike White’s for as long as I can remember. I love everything that he does, I’ve been wanting to work for him for a really long time and I was not surprised that White Lotus season 1 was such a hit and that people loved it because I just think the world of his writing and his mind and his brain as an artist. So I was really happy for the show and for him, and so, so excited to get to be a part of it."

Sabrina Impacciatore: "I watched the first season in one night and I was shocked. I was astonished and I thought, 'oh my god … I have to get this role,' because this is like my cup of tea, this is an idea of cinema or television that I really love. The first season was so original, so surprising because it didn’t look like anything else. … I got the role, to be honest, that was the highest professional joy of my entire existence and I will never forget that."

Jennifer Coolidge on returning for The White Lotus season 2

"It was a thrill to have happen [winning an Emmy]. I like to have a day in this lifetime where you’re like, 'oh my god, I would never have expected that in my whole life.'... And now I’ve had that moment and I’m just thrilled and now here we have White Lotus 2 and had this double gift of being able to do another one, it wasn’t supposed to be that way. So, am I grateful? I can't even convey to you my gratitude."

What was it like filming in Italy?

Meghann Fahy: "It was amazing. You kind of forget that it’s all real in a way. Like when we shot at the palazzo … and there’s just the exterior shot of the car pulling up with the building, and I was sitting there looking at it being like that’s a house, not a hotel, not a historical building, it is a home and we were walking around in side of it. It actually is sort of hard to comprehend, because some of the locations that we shot in and even just the places we stayed, they were so beautiful, so surreal."

Theo James: "The first couple of days shooting we had [Mount] Etna in the background basically gently exploding, the beautiful blue sky and we had the ocean in front of us on the side of a cliff. It was very, almost strange to be there. We kept on having to remind ourselves that we’re very lucky and we don’t get to do this that often."

Plaza: "It definitely felt like adult summer camp. … We were all staying in this little town that was really during the offseason, so we kind of had our run of the town. It felt like we were all just  running around the streets of Taramina. We started to know people in the town … you bond very quickly in those experiences because you’re all each other has."

Jon Gries: "I always felt like even the Italians who came down to work in Sicily treated Sicily different. They were like this is Sicily, yes it’s Italy, but Sicilians think this is Sicily not Italy so much. And yet there was this sense of kind of everybody … the energy is just vibrating through the streets."

What should fans expect in The White Lotus season 2?

Beatrice Grannó: "I think that what makes this second season great is the chaotic nature of it. It’s so chaotic and it’s very loud and every story is connected to one another somehow."

Michael Imperioli: "The themes this season are very personal, yet also more timeless than season 1. Which reflects the place, the connection to the ancient world being in Sicily. Much more about masculinity, femininity and those roles, you know, the conflict between, which is something that has been going on for many, many, many, many, many centuries. And yet that’s also something that is very individual, very personal at the same time."

F. Murray Abraham: "And that intimacy also encourages an intensity. … Morally, sexually, spiritually as well. It’s a remarkable accomplishment."

Theo James: "It has a lot of the same DNA. The conceit is the same but the themes are very different, and that’s the joy of Mike’s writing. It’s about sexuality, gender, sexual politics, social politics and linked specifically to Sicily, to European sensibilities versus American, to history to all of those things."

The White Lotus season 2 airs on HBO and streams on HBO Max in the US, Sky TV in the UK.

We had our summer fling with many TV shows (in particular The Old Man, Love Island USA, Only Murders in the Building and more), but it's now time to get into the heart of the US TV calendar, the 2022 fall TV season.

In addition to the changing of the season, fall brings a tidal wave of new and returning TV shows — on the four major networks (ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC), the cable channels and the streaming services. Basically, there's going to be a lot to watch.

We've compiled a list of the TV shows we're most looking forward to watching this fall that run the gamut from sitcoms to dramas, reality to westerns, sci-fi, fantasy and more... So without further ado, let's get down to it.

90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? season 7 (on air, TLC/Discovery Plus)

With 90 Day Fiancé wrapped for another season, it’s time for 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? season 7. The spinoff series continues to showcase fan-favorite couples from the 90 Day Universe as they attempt to navigate their relationships post-nuptials. This season, viewers get to once again see Angela Deem screech Michael Ilesanm’s name for no rhyme or reason, Andrei Castravet duke it out in another few rounds with Elizabeth Potthast’s sisters and newcomers Bilal Hazziez and Shaeeda Sween figure out if a baby is in their future. 

In a rarity for the series, there is one couple this season that isn’t married nor have they gone through the K-1 Visa process. Referring, of course, to Big Ed Brown and Liz Woods. The couple actually met on another spinoff, 90 Day: The Single Life. 

On the topic of 90 Day: The Single Life, season 3 of the series premieres on Monday, September 12, and features returning cast members Debbie Johnson and Natalie Mordovtseva. Hopefully, these two ladies will find love this go around. — Terrell Smith  

Little Demon (on air, FXX)

There’s something really fun about how adult animation pushes the boundaries of storytelling in ways that wouldn’t work outside a cartoon world. That’s what makes Little Demon so much fun. In one corner you have mom Laura (Aubrey Plaza), who has worked for 13 years to protect her daughter, Chrissy (voice by Lucy DeVito), from the outside world because her father is the actual devil. 

When Satan — voiced by Danny DeVito — shows up to claim his offspring when the child comes of age, he’s delighted to discover that he has a daughter and that she’s willing to learn about her new powers despite her mom’s concerns. 

We’re excited about Little Demon because it’s well-written and raunchy. It doesn’t hold back on crass humor and it’s full of inside jokes and double entendres to keep you guessing. At the end of the day when you need to relax and unwind, it’s adult animation like this that proves to be the perfect thing to watch. — Sarabeth Pollock

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (September 2, Prime Video)

Fall 2022 may be the best time to be a fantasy fan on TV. Not only are we enjoying a return to Westeros with the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, but for the first time ever J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings work is coming to television.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is based on Tolkien's writings (footnotes, appendices and songs) but covers events in an era of Middle Earth we’ve never seen before — the Second Age and the forging of the titular Rings of Power — that lead to the story we know so well. Even though we’ll have plenty of new characters and worlds to experience for the first time, fan favorites like Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Elrond (Robert Aramayo) are part of the series.

Amazon Studios reportedly spent $1 billion on The Rings of Power. It certainly looks it from the incredible visuals we’ve seen. But will that translate into an enjoyable TV series? We’ll see, but we have our fingers crossed. — Michael Balderston

Queen Sugar season 7 (September 6, OWN)

Ava DuVernay’s hit drama is gearing up for a royal goodbye, as Queen Sugar season 7 will be the series’ last. Knowing DuVernay’s incomparable knack for storytelling when it comes to dramas, it will be interesting to see how it all ends. Will Charlie (Dawn-Lyen Gardner) become a California politician and a star of her political party on the national stage? Will Nova (Rutina Wesley) be able to keep shining a light on police corruption if it continues to put her and her family in harm’s way?

Additionally, what will happen to the Bordelon farm? Given all that’s happening in the lives of the characters and the legacy of what that land means to them, will the family decide their ability to progress forward in their individual endeavors is hampered by their continued fight to keep their land? Or will they realize the land is always worth the fight? — Terrell Smith

The Serpent Queen (September 11, Starz)

From the network that gave us Outlander now comes the story of one of history’s most notorious female rulers. In The Serpent Queen, BAFTA-winner Samantha Morton becomes Catherine de Medici, the Italian wife of France’s King Henry II. 

This retelling of Catherine’s story makes the 16th century come to life through a modern lens. This edgy drama is historical fiction (like Reign or The Great), loosely tying historical events together in a package that’s easy for viewers to digest regardless of their knowledge of Catherine’s life or the events that made her a queen. 

What’s fun is that the show does not take itself too seriously, giving Morton all the space she needs to be devious and wicked but also strong and fierce, an unusual combination for a woman at that time. 

The all-star cast, including Charles Dance (Game of Thrones, The Sandman) and Colm Meaney (Star Trek: The Next Generation), make it must-see TV. — Sarabeth Pollock

Vampire Academy (September 15, Peacock)

The fall TV schedule is full of vampires and we’re here for it. Vampire Academy, based on the bestselling series by Richelle Mead, is coming to life in spectacular fashion under the watchful eye of The Vampire Diaries’ showrunner Julie Plec. 

Plec knows a thing or two about vampires, so there’s no doubt this show will have all of the angst and drama we’ve come to love and expect from her productions. 

Vampire Academy is the story of a reluctant vampire princess and her bodyguard, who also happens to be her best friend. Together, they struggle to fulfill the duties that are expected of them while carving out identities of their own. 

As a Peacock exclusive, Vampire Academy can do things that weren’t possible on The CW, giving the fledgling series the ability to feature more blood, violence and possibly gore (staples of vampire series, of course), as well as exploring the kinds of language and sexuality that wouldn’t pass TV censors. 

The Vampire Academy series came out around the same time as Twilight, which means there are lots of vampire fans of all ages out there looking forward to the series coming to life. — Sarabeth Pollock

Quantum Leap (September 19, NBC)

When Quantum Leap first debuted in 1989, it offered TV audiences something different with its ability to jump from place to place, era to era, with an ever-changing cast of characters supporting the show’s stars, Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell. 

Modern audiences will get to see the show come to life again as Quantum Leap returns with Raymond Lee, Caitlin Bassett, Mason Alexander Park and Ernie Hudson leading the way. The new series is set 30 years after the original, with Lee’s Dr. Ben Song trying to learn about the Quantum Leap machine.

Like its predecessor, the new Quantum Leap will have a chance to transport its cast to new locations and new eras, giving the show a fresh new feel from week to week. Though risky, when done properly it can yield high rewards for TV audiences looking for something fresh and different in a primetime lineup that’s usually full of medical dramas and crime procedurals. — Sarabeth Pollock

Abbott Elementary season 2 (September 21, ABC)

Abbott Elementary was an instant hit with viewers (and us at What to Watch). The comedic genius that is Quinta Brunson created a fantastic sitcom that managed to differentiate itself from others in the current TV landscape with its unique comedic setups, Philly-based jargon and fresh take on what it's like to educate today’s minds.

When viewers last caught up with the teachers of Abbott Elementary, Janine (Brunson) was preparing to begin her newly single life. Although fans are hoping that means she’ll gravitate to Gregory (Tyler James Williams), given he appears to be dating Barbara’s (Sheryl Lee Ralph) daughter, we aren’t sure Janine and Gregory will become a couple any time soon. We’ll have to wait and see how that potential love triangle develops or fizzles. 

Oh, and we can’t forget everyone’s favorite principal Ava (Janelle James). Since she is no longer able to blackmail her supervisor, Abbott Elementary fans should expect her to do something truly unique in the coming episodes — actually do some work. — Terrell Smith

Law & Order: SVU season 24 (September 22, NBC)

Let’s hope this is the season on Law & Order: SVU that creator Dick Wolf finally listens to fans and explores the romantic side of the relationship between Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni). Since Elliot has resurfaced in the Law & Order universe, the two have had incomplete conversations about their feelings for each other and after 23 seasons of this will-they-or-won’t-they dynamic, you figure it’s time they’d become a couple hashtag or something. 

We’re also hoping for an amazing sendoff for Detective Amanda Rollins. Rollins portrayer, Kelli Giddish, recently announced that season 24 of the series will be her last. So, it will be interesting to see how the character’s storyline wraps. 

Briefly pivoting back to Elliot, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that many fans are interested in seeing what his team over on Law & Order: Organized Crime has going on in their third season. Given he’s been undercover now for two seasons, we wonder what new alias he’ll take on. Law & Order: Organized Crime season 3 also premieres on Thursday, September 22, in a three-series Law & Order crossover event. — Terrell Smith

Interview with the Vampire (October 2, AMC)

Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe comes to life on AMC with the highly-anticipated adaptation of Interview with the Vampire starring Jacob Anderson (Game of Thrones) as Louis and Sam Reid (The Newsreader) as the vampire Lestat. Bailey Bass and Eric Bogosian round out the cast and put their own spins on Claudia and reporter Daniel Molloy. 

Though Interview with the Vampire was adapted into the 1994 film starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, the new AMC series is a chance for the story to develop in greater detail, possibly spawning an entire universe based on Rice’s beloved characters. 

There are some changes from the books, but in the end these updates for a modern audience will likely strengthen the story as it expands into a full-blown universe. 

What we love is that it has all of the trappings of Rice’s world; lavish and decadent New Orleans sets and costumes that befit the Brat Prince and his vampire family. 

We’re ready to sink our teeth into this new vampire series! — Sarabeth Pollock

The Walking Dead final episodes (October 2, AMC)

After 12 years and 11 seasons, The Walking Dead is coming to an end. The final season was divided into three eight-episode segments, with the last eight episodes of the season premiering this fall, with fans dying to know who makes it through to the end. 

Carol (Melissa McBride) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) are the only two characters who have survived from the first season, along with Maggie (Lauren Cohan) who joined in season 2. Though all three have been tied to Walking Dead spinoffs after the main show ends, we don’t know where they’ll be when The Walking Dead wraps up. 

One cool thing about these final episodes is that they can’t have the ending as written in the original comic books, given that Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) left the show in season 9 and Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs) was killed off in season 8. That means we’ll be guessing until the very end. That’s something to be excited about from a show that knows how to deliver big twists and unexpected turns. — Sarabeth Pollock

Grey’s Anatomy season 19 (October 6, ABC)

As a longtime Grey’s Anatomy fan, it would seem disloyal not to put this as a must-watch for the fall. Especially, when this could be Meredith’s (Ellen Pompeo) last season of the series. 

With the announcement that Pompeo’s only slated to be featured in eight episodes, we have a lot of questions about the nature of Meredith’s storyline. Is the OG of Grey Sloan readying herself for an exit and going to wind up taking the job in Minnesota? Or does Shonda Rhimes have one of her gut-wrenching deaths planned for a character that has already escaped death so many times before? Or is Meredith just going on a sabbatical to remember how she’s different from her ambitious mother professionally? 

Whatever the answer is to the Meredith mystery, this season is worth viewing. By the way, you also want to watch this season to figure out how Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Teddy (Kim Raver) get out of their current legal troubles. — Terrell Smith

The White Lotus: Sicily (October, HBO)

It’s time to head back on vacation to The White Lotus, this time to the gorgeous Italian island of Sicily. However, if you’re familiar with the first iteration of The White Lotus, you'll know that a relaxing vacation is not likely in store for the characters in this new season.

An entirely new cast (save for the first season’s MVP Jennifer Coolidge) makes up The White Lotus: Sicily, including Aubrey Plaza, F. Murray Abraham, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, Haley Lu Richardson and Tom Hollander as some of the guests and Sabrina Impacciatore as the manager forced to deal with them.

We’ve never been rooting for a bad vacation before like we are with The White Lotus: Sicily. Hopefully, we get another darkly enjoyable outing from creator Mike White and company. — Michael Balderston

The English (November 11, Prime Video)

There have been a number of hugely popular TV shows in recent years that got their play first in the UK and we have another contender this fall with The English, a limited series western starring Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer.

The series sees an aristocratic Englishwoman (Blunt) and a Pawnee ex-cavalry scout (Spencer) join together to cross the 1890 mid-America landscape, which is built on dreams and blood. They're heading for Wyoming, where a series of unsolved murders complicates their situation as well as shines a light on key elements of their past.

In addition to Blunt and Spencer, the series stars Stephen Rae, Valerie Pachner, Rafe Spall, Tom Hughes, Toby Jones and Ciarán Hinds.

The western has been experiencing a renaissance on US TV, between Yellowstone and other Taylor Sheridan projects, Outer Range and more. The English is the latest example of this trend but has a number of intriguing ingredients that could make it a standalone hit. — Michael Balderston

Yellowstone season 5 (November 13, Paramount Network)

To see how much Yellowstone has grown in popularity you only have to look at the fan reactions to the western drama receiving exactly zero 2022 Emmy nominations for season 4, despite it being one of the most-watched shows of the last year. So it should be no surprise that having the Duttons back on TV is one of the most anticipated events of the fall TV season.

Though the Sheridan-verse is growing with 1883, the upcoming 1923, Tulsa King starring Sylvester Stallone (another Paramount Plus original series also premiering on November 13) and more on the way, Yellowstone season 5 remains the flagship series. 

As the Duttons continue their fight to protect their land, John Dutton (Kevin Costner) is going to be kicking his campaign for governor into high gear. The rest of the main cast — Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser and Kelsey Asbille — are all back for the latest season as well.

Whether it gets the awards or not, Yellowstone has become a phenomenon and season 5 is going to be appointment viewing (though it’s never too late to catch up with Yellowstone seasons 1-4). — Michael Balderston

The Crown season 5 (November, Netflix)

It’s a new season and a new Queen Elizabeth II for The Crown, as Imelda Staunton takes over as the third iteration of Britain’s sovereign ruler since the Netflix original series began. She follows in the footsteps of Claire Foy and Olivia Colman — those are not small shoes to fill, especially since both Foy and Colman received Emmys for their performances.

Staunton is not the only new member of The Crown as the series heads into the 1990s. Jonathan Pryce takes over as Prince Phillip, Dominic West assumes the role of Prince Charles, Olivia Williams moves forward as Camilla Parker Bowles and Elizabeth Debicki is the show’s next Princess Diana, picking up where Emma Corin left off. Johnny Lee Miller is Prime Minister John Major and Khalid Abdalla join the cast as Diana's lover, Dodi Al-Fayed.

As we move closer to current times, many of the events depicted in The Crown are going to be fresher in people’s minds, which should make for some interesting parallels. — Michael Balderston

The Best Man: The Final Chapter (December 22, Peacock)

The forthcoming The Best Man: The Final Chapter should excite all fans of the 1999 original film. The 10-episode series continues to follow the lives of Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs) and his longtime friends as they navigate the twists and turns that come along with getting further along in adulthood. 

When fans of The Best Man last caught up with the characters, it was in The Best Man Holiday, where the crew gathered for what would be the ultimate passing of Mia (Monica Calhoun). However, it was in her death that old wounds were healed and new pathways were created. 

Personally, I can’t wait to see what happens next. — Terrell Smith

1923 (December, Paramount Plus)

Yellowstone may have taken some time to build up its current fanbase, but now that they’re there they are ready to watch anything related to the neo-western. Earlier this year that included the prequel series 1883, which followed members of the Dutton family as they made their way west and in 2022 they’re going to be able to watch 1923, the next chapter in the Dutton family saga.

Starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren and with the great depression and westward expansion as its backdrop, 1923 looks to be another massive story. But Taylor Sheridan has shown he’s more than capable of portraying a deeply human and affecting story against the western landscape, which should make for some great TV. — Michael Balderston

Love Is Blind season 3 (TBA, Netflix)

Love is Blind has just become one of those reality dating shows that you can’t stop watching once you start. While it naturally draws its comparisons with shows like The Bachelor and The Bachelorette given it follows people in their quest to find love, it’s completely different in that it forces people to establish a romantic connection with someone without knowing what they may look like. 

Following a season in which no couple opted to stay together (even the two married couples recently announced their plans to divorce), there are some high expectations that Love Is Blind season 3 will help right the ship when it comes to building lasting relationships. 

Netflix has just announced that season 3 will be out this fall. We suspect Netflix will release more specific information on dates after the debut of Love is Blind: After the Altar season 2. — Terrell Smith

Wednesday (TBA, Netflix)

We’re ready to snap our fingers to the tune of Tim Burton’s Wednesday, The Addams Family spinoff coming to Netflix this fall. If we’re being honest, Wednesday Addams is the most compelling member of her spooky clan. Not only is she brilliant, but she’s got her mother’s grace and her father’s penchant for mischief. 

In the new series, Wednesday is kicked out of yet another school when she takes on her brother’s bullies. She’s sent to Nevermore Academy, the school where her parents met and fell in love. After an adjustment period, she finds that she’s going to fit in quite well at her new school. 

The Wednesday trailer absolutely sold us on Burton’s vision for the series. It’s dark but playful, sinister but self-deprecating in the best of ways. Star Jenna Ortega is so perfect for the role and Burton has given her the space she needs to put her own twist on the beloved character. And, in a first for the series, there’s also some blood and gore mixed into what’s being described as a murder mystery, giving Wednesday the space she needs to show what she can really do… — Sarabeth Pollock

This post contains spoilers for season one of The White Lotus.

HBO’s satirical comedy-drama The White Lotus pokes fun at the interpersonal woes of wealthy white people while on vacation in Hawaii. The tribulations of hotel manager Armond (Murray Bartlett), Tanya MacQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge), Shane (Jake Lacy) and Rachel Patton (Alexandra Daddario), and the Mossbacher family created the foundational plot points throughout the first season. However, the sinister underbelly of the show revealed itself in scenarios where the aforementioned guests interacted with characters of color. With the characters of Lani (Jolene Purdy), Belinda (Natasha Rothwell), Kai (Kekoa Scott Kekumano), and Paula (Brittany O’Grady), the writing of the series was intentional in creating class divisions along racial lines. Three of the aforementioned four characters were employees at the hotel, forced into subservience to majority white clientele. As the white “protagonists” of the series dealt with the minutiae of their privileged lives, they remained blissfully unaware of the impact they made on the BIPOC in their orbit.

Let’s start with Lani, the secretly-pregnant Asian trainee seen only in episode one. Armond claimed ignorance of her pregnancy because of her plus-size build. Lani, likely aware of the tricky politics of job-hunting while expecting, chose not to disclose her pregnancy to The White Lotus in order to secure employment. Her plan backfired when she went into labor on her very first day. Petrified at Armond finding out and losing her new job, Lani labored in silence until it was physically impossible to hide from her coworkers. When Armond finally discovered Lani laboring, Lani was apologetic, explaining through contractions that she needed the job and didn’t expect to go into labor prematurely. Lani’s storyline reflects the reality of working women of color in the United States. Women of color are a large portion of the service industry, and thus are more likely to end up in precarious employment situations like Lani if they are pregnant. Stuck in a job sector that is lower-paying and labor intensive, BIPOC generally don’t have access to jobs with remote capabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic has made this class difference abundantly clear.

Belinda, to contrast, had greater financial privilege than Lani as a spa manager. But this Black woman was ultimately still beholden to the courtesies of a white person with more financial access than her. Tanya took an interest in Belinda after receiving a life-altering (for her, at least) spa treatment that gave her a spiritual uplift. Vacationing while grieving her abusive mother, Tanya looked to Belinda to guide her through her existential dread, not comprehending that providing healing to guests was part of Belinda’s job description. Initially as an extension of her customer service job, she indulges Tanya’s flattery and platonic advances. At Tanya’s emotional lowest, she offers to fund Belinda’s very own spa. At first Belinda is hesitant about the offer, but soon realizes it could be her ticket to financial prosperity. Belinda obliges Tanya’s many requests for emotional support — even being present at the dumping of Tanya’s mother’s ashes — in hopes of buttering Tanya up for a business grant. Belinda even wrote a business proposal for Tanya to review for consideration. But near the end of the season, Tanya met a gentleman who wanted to court her, and Tanya’s interest in Belinda gradually waned. In the end, Tanya formally rejects Belinda’s business proposal, citing her problematic pattern of entering relationships wherein she uses her money to control people. Though shockingly self-aware, Tanya still crushed Belinda’s dream.

Tanya and Belinda’s hot-and-cold relationship mirrors the fickle nature of capitalism. Run by wealthy white people, the parts of society that are given the most money are the ones that this elite deems worthy of their investment. Police forces, corporations, fossil fuels — the list goes on. On a micro level, people of color have come to hope that nepotism from generous white people can lift them from obscurity. Even upper middle class white people hold social and professional cachet that middle- and lower-class BIPOC could only dream of. Capitalism creates a racial stratification of income that breeds desperation from the lower classes. Any adjacency to privilege is to be aggressively pursued until one attains it for themselves. Belinda followed this formula to a tee, but she woefully discovered that the desires of the elite class are hollow and unreliable.

Another character of color, Paula, is part of the Mossbacher family vacation thanks to Olivia (Sydney Sweeney), the sardonic daughter of Mark (Steve Zahn) and Nicole (Connie Britton). The show sets up Olivia and Paula’s bond as one of shared social intellectualism; they tag-teamed in philosophical discussions with liberal perspectives against Olivia’s parents. The two college-age friends start the trip on good terms, but their friendship is tested when Paula stumbles into a secret romance with native-Hawaiian employee, Kai. Paula’s motivation for keeping her fling with Kai hidden was that Olivia was apparently a boyfriend-stealer. After some not-so-subtle nighttime escapades between the lovebirds, Olivia discovered their affair and later flirted with Kai. When Kai shared this with Paula, she concocted a plan to enact revenge on Olivia and the Mossbachers.

Kai had previously explained to Paula that his family was at risk of losing their native land to tourist gentrification. He sullenly told Paula that his family couldn’t afford lawyers to fight back against the theft of their lands. It was clear that Paula connected to this feeling of powerlessness; although Paula’s backstory remains unknown, her occasional standoffishness toward the Mossbachers implied that she was of a lower class than them. Both of them were involved in scenarios of unequal power dynamics that, albeit for different reasons, they felt impossible to escape. After hearing of Olivia’s betrayal, Paula convinced Kai to steal a $75,000 piece of jewelry from a safe in the Mossbachers’ room. She convinced Kai that this would be karmic retribution for the same kind of wealthy white people threatening his family, and that he could pawn the jewelry to pay for a good lawyer. But on a subconscious level, Paula really just wanted to get back at Olivia. For once, she wanted to steal something from Olivia in the same way Olivia had always done to her.

Of course, the plan backfired. Despite Paula orchestrating the perfect scenario for Kai to break into the room, free will intervened. Nicole and Mark had a blowup right before leaving for an excursion, prompting Nicole to return to their room hours earlier than expected. Kai is caught in the act and fended off by Mark, and eventually returns the jewelry offscreen. Paula’s plan for Kai, while risky, would have worked if not for the emotional whims of Nicole and Mark. Even when they don’t realize they wield it, rich white people exercise incredible power with their actions.

Paula came to this realization as well. She told Olivia in the finale that no matter how “woke” she pretended to be, that she was still a spoiled, privileged white woman. As Paula sat with the Mossbachers for their final dinner, listening to them argue about whether or not to buy a boat for leisure, she realized that Olivia is just like her family. More importantly, Paula concluded that she will never be like the wealthy white family that charitably brought her on vacation. Like the other characters of color, Paula ends the season mourning the potential of the future she could have had.

The White Lotus created a strong thesis on white class privilege up until its finale. The use of humor revealed the expected blind spots of upper class white Americans in an entertaining way. When looking at the endings for each BIPOC character, however, the effectiveness of the series as satire must be questioned.  Belinda and Paula were left despondent by the end credits, and viewers were left to draw their own conclusions about Lani and Kai. The latter is troubling when you consider that Kai and Lani were the show’s closest approximation to what actual native Hawaiians look like. Indeed, Hawaii was nothing more than an exotified backdrop in this series. When the islands are currently experiencing a crisis in bloated tourism, it is distasteful to film a series there that sees a majority of its white characters get happily ever afters, no matter how twisted they were. It may be true that rich white people like the Pattons and Mossbachers vacation in tropical areas, willfully ignorant of the damage their tourism causes to local culture. It may be a realistic portrayal to show white vacationers toying with people of color and then returning to their lives as expected. But if the satirized characters don’t actually lose anything in the narrative, and white audiences can’t grasp what is being satirized, is The White Lotus a satire — or a documentary?

With Hulu's Nine Perfect Strangers, set to drop its first three episodes on Wednesday, August 18, a new trend of isolated escapism has emerged as the year's most intriguing cinematic trope. But unlike the mindless fun of FBOY Island, these claustrophobic jaunts to the tropics are full of some concepts that hit much closer to home, thanks to the shared lockdown we've all experienced over the past year. 

How far does one have to go to truly get away from all the bad parts? Not far enough, it seems.

The "trouble in paradise" motif is nothing new, but The White Lotus, HBO's surprise summer hit about a collection of dysfunctional, privileged white guests at an upscale Hawaiian hotel, has helped shine a light on stories of a similar ilk. M. Night Shyamalan's Old takes viewers to an ocean-side retreat where rest and relaxation is the last thing on the menu. On that odd beach, time is most definitely of the essence as each unfortunate visitor rapidly ages, facing their own tragic morbidity front-and-center.

Nine Perfect Strangers, which reunites show-creator David E. Kelley with star Nicole Kidman, and is adapted from the 2018 novel written by Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty. The series follows the journey of, well, nine perfect strangers who converge on a wellness retreat called Tranquillum House for healing. As we soon find out, things at the mysterious locale are a bit, shall we say, off-kilter. So are the nine illustrious guests looking for transformation.

Michael Shannon, Asher Keddie, and Grace Van Patten make up Napoleon, Heather, and Zoe Marconi —  a family broken by shared grief; Melissa McCarthys' Frannie is a successful romance author whose personal life is in ruin; Luke Evans' Lars is a gay investigative reporter there to expose the mysterious establishment for its questionable methods; Samara Weaving and Melvin Gregg are Jessica and Ben Chandler, an attractive social-media-savvy couple with marital problems; and Regina Hall's Carmel is a single mom and recent divorcee simply looking for self-improvement. Her rage and violent tendencies may point to some much deeper concerns.

If there are any positives to come out of the pandemic, it's the growing understanding of trauma and how we deal with our respective demons. Self-care acceptance is on the up-tick, leaving many of us turning to different avenues for healing.

There's a flip side here, though: When left to our own devices for too long, and considering the state of America's medical system and the rampant misinformation spreading online, a mistrust in science leads people to do their own personal research and self-diagnose their problems. Where does real science end and the psuedo-scientific nonsense begin? Where exactly does the wellness end and the damage begin? 

Nine Perfect Strangers, like Shyamalan's Old before it, places an unsuspecting group in a place that may not exactly have their best interests in mind. With some disorienting camera work, zooming up-close into some high-end kitchen appliances to watch organic ingredients get slowly torn into a blood-red malaise (blending smoothies has never looked so violent), it's easy to see how the wellness featured in this show is also a weapon. Is Tranquillim House an evil place?

As director Jonathan Levine explained to Elle, it is. But only kind of. 

“The retreat creates a little bit of anxiety in our characters, and that resonates even more in this world [now] than it did when Liane wrote the book,” Levine said. “It’s this concept that the perfect is unsafe, that there are no safe spaces anymore. All these new realities of the COVID world. It’s a little scary when a lack of safety begins to encroach on your leisure time.”

Pervasive in Nine Perfect Strangers and Old is the notion of consent. Both stories feature experimental, even life-threatening practices, presented in a way that brings up issues of medical ethics. But, that's also the reality we're currently living in. Experimental wellness is most definitely a thing, and both stories give us horrific peeks into the ways wellness can be weaponized against us. Who reaps the benefits here? The guests looking for rejuvenation, or the gurus doling out the discomfort?

And before we get too off track here, it's worth pointing out that The White Lotus doesn't, for the most part, anyway, feature such drug use — except for some off-the-wagon benders experienced by a couple hotel staff members. But there's a pervasive notion here that says, if you can afford the trip, taking a sojourn to the tropics can change your life and possibly even make you a better person. In fact, that's pretty much the message that any half-baked wellness tactic can convey when those in need are looking for any accessible methods of care.

This is why shows like Netflix's The Goop Lab was so successful (and polarizing) when it premiered. The streamer has since ordered the Gwynyth Paltrow wellness series for another season. But there is something to be said for the ways in which the program's various messages of healing, and the avenues it offered to acquire such enlightenment (case in point: the company's famous "yoni egg") can be viewed as hackneyed. Criticisms over its thinly-veiled infomercial style led to inquiries of accountability, responsibility, and, really, just questions about who exactly this show benefits. Again, is it the viewer looking to be fixed, or the guru doling out the discomfort?

"I think you think a lot about what you do to cover up your problems," Melissa McCarthey explained during the Nine Perfect Strangers panel at the 2021 Television Critics Association summer tour. "After this last year and a half, masking things doesn’t make them better. And at some point, you have to get them out. [...] it’s like you’re already in the midst of being miserable and suffering, so make a change. And that’s so much what I think this show is about."

If it's one thing we can all agree on it's that leisure time has taken on a completely different meaning since the pandemic began. We should all feel thankful that The White Lotus, Nine Perfect Strangers, and yes, even FBoy Island — which were all shot during the pandemic — for just existing for our own cathartic amusement.

From an audience's perspective, where the thirst for escapism is at an all-time high, these projects have shown us there's still ways to transform pain into art. They've also shown that vacationing to a far-off location, where tropical vices await, may sound like the cure to all our lockdown woes. But that's not always the right answer. 

Roadrunner, the new documentary about Anthony Bourdain's life and untimely demise, is a prime example of this. Until we pull all of our personal traumas to bed, outrunning these demons is, and always will be, a mission in futility.

However, when the onus isn't on us, instead, resting on the shoulders of some fictional, flawed person, and we're the ones watching from the outside as they embark on a cringe-inducing journey to achieve some sort of inner nirvana — well that, dear reader, is obviously just great television.

The White Lotus will return for a second season, HBO announced today.

The initial six-episode limited series features an ensemble cast of eclectic islanders, resort hosts and guests — each horrible and broken in their own way — interacting at the White Lotus "over the span of a week as they relax and rejuvenate in paradise. But with each passing day, a darker complexity emerges in these picture-perfect travelers, the hotel’s cheerful employees and the idyllic locale itself."

That's actually not doing it justice. In the opening episode we got up-close and personal with Steve Zahn's ... prosthetics. So, yeah, it was going to be that kind of show.

The first run has starred Murray Bartlett, Connie Britton, Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra D'addario, Fred Hechinger, Jake Lacy, Brittany O'Grady, Natasha Rothwell, Sydney Sweeney and Zahn.

The second installment, HBO says, will "leaves Hawaii behind and follows a different group of vacationers as they jet to another White Lotus property and settle in temporarily amongst its inhabitants."

As to who will make up that new group of guests is anyone's guess thus far. Nor do we have any sort of idea when to expect the second season.

We also don't have any idea where the new resort will be. But if I may be so bold — it sounds like the perfect time for a Westworld crossover.

HBO is heading on vacation this summer with a new original limited series from Mike White, The White Lotus. After the last year and change, we may have forgotten what it’s like to take a vacation, and The White Lotus looks like a fun, comedic take on what not to do on your next trip.

This is Mike White’s second go around with HBO, after creating the Laura Dern-led dramedy Enlighted that ran for two seasons on the cable network from 2011-2013. The White Lotus is set to debut on HBO starting July 11.

The White Lotus is titled after the tropical resort where it takes place and follows the staff and guests residing there over the span of a week. Making up the resort’s residents are Connie Britton, Steve Zahn, Jennifer Coolidge, Murray Barlett, Molly Shannon, Jack Lacy, Alexandra Daddario, Natasha Rockwell, Sydney Sweeney and more.

To paraphrase Barlett in the trailer, the guests at The White Lotus believe that they are the most special people at the resort, and it’s up to the staff to make them feel that way. That doesn’t mean they enjoy it or won’t talk about the crazy things the guests do behind the scenes.

Scheduled for six episodes to release every week, The White Lotus debuts on July 11. Check out the trailer below.

In addition to airing on the traditional HBO cable channel, The White Lotus will also be made available to stream on HBO Max. This helped HBO’s most recent limited series Mare of Easttown draw a big audience, but will there be as big a draw for a comedy series versus a mystery series that fans can theorize and analyze?

HBO Max is a subscription streaming service that costs $14.99 per month for its premium, ad-free version; the newly launched ad-supported version of HBO Max costs $9.99 per month.